Accommodation in NANTES
You have several different accommodation options in Nantes: there are student residences (Private like top campus or public like CROUS), hostels, host families, petit port camping and private apartments. Some accommodation offer furnished apartments – from studios to two-bedroom apartments. Also, some accommodation might offer various service such as cafeterias, laundromats, sports facilities, music room, study room, computers room, concierge and free internet. Utilities such as electricity and gas are usually not included in rent and must be paid separately but if you chose to live in a CROUS student "cité universitaire" it will be included. The same for internet and cable channels, some residence will include it for free but sometimes you will have to pay 30 euros each month to have internet in your flat or 50 euros if you wish to have internet/cable channels/fix phone. To rent a one room flat in Nantes it is between 400 euros and 600 euros.
Important:
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In most cases, you will need a “guarantor” in order to rent an apartment. A guarantor is someone who undertakes to pay if you fail to pay your rent. BE careful because this person must be resident within the European Union. They will be asked to provide proof of identity and resources of this guarantor. If you can not find any guarantor you can ask the government (https://www.lokaviz.fr/n/faire-une-demande-de-caution-locative-etudiante-cle/n:513).
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You will need to take out insurance cover against fire, water damage, and civil liability. It costs around 60 euros by years. You can ask your bank or insurance companies like MACIF, AXA, MATMUT.
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You will be asked for a guarantee deposit equal to one or two months' rent, reimbursable on your departure if no damage has occurred.
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You should fill in a rental agreement and make an inventory of fixtures with the owner (do it very careful, write down all the broken/dirty furniture). Look carefully at the length of the contract and above all the notice period for leaving (this is usually 1-3 months before the desired departure date).
Our Tips:
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Share a three room flat in town so it is less expensive by person and you will meet new friends and also you will be near all the pub/night life.
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Register for a CROUS accommodation (the cheapest and great located flat, as an example: one 9m2 bedroom will be 250 euros (with sanitary, they are equipped with a refrigerator, a bed, a desk, a chair and a closet. Also you have a sharing kitchen and others services as sport room, music room, etc.). A 18m2 flat will be 380 euros (it includes the same as a bedroom but it is bigger and you will have you own kitchen). The best, is that, for this price: electricity, water, internet an others services are included. To book a CROUS accommodation, if you know that you are coming in September, you have to register between January and April of the same year. Well for us, the best "cité universitaire" CROUS accommodation are "La Bourgeonnière" and "Launay Violette". You can find all their accommodation in this website: http://www.crous-nantes.fr/logements/nos-logements-2/
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If you are a student and you are paying rent, you could be entitled to housing benefit from the C.A.F (Caisse d'Allocations Familiales - Family Allowance office). This rent assistance is calculated according to your means. The good news is that if you are living in a CROUS accommodation, you can have help from the government. As an example, if you live in a studio in some CROUS "cité universitaire" at the end with the government caf help you will only pay 170 euros by month to live in Nantes. Isn't it great ? This is a booklet to know how to ask for the "caf":
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Bed covers, pillow, blanket and sheets will not be provided. Therefore, make sure you bring them with you, or come early to register in your accommodation so you will have time to go and buy everything when you get Nantes.
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To buy everything that you will need during your stay, you can go the Students shop (famous little shop only for students in Nantes, it is selling at low price some furniture that have been donate by the past students when they left town), look at this page for more information: http://studentsshop44.com
Also you can go to Ikea (tram line 1 station "Tourmaline") or go to E. Lecler (Tram line 1 station "Tourmaline" or line 2 station "Le Cardo") or go to Auchan (tram line 3 station "Orvault Morlière"). Take their fidelity card so that you can benefit from their promotions.
