What to say at a French flat viewing (visite)

The listing is on Leboncoin or SeLoger. They want a dossier, not a charming paragraph. The visit itself is twenty minutes with a stranger who will decide whether your avis d’imposition looks like someone who can pay the dépôt de garantie.

The French housing phrase page has the short lines for the door. This is the rest: the message that books the visite, the charges that are not the rent, and the deposit cap on Service-Public. Lyon in September is the same conversation as Paris, with a different metro map.

The message that gets you a visite

A French ad is a code. T2 is two rooms (one bedroom). T3 is two bedrooms. HC is hors charges — rent without the building charges. CC is charges comprises. Meublé is furnished; vide is not. Ascenseur or sans ascenseur is the walk.

A message that works:

Bonjour, j’ai vu votre annonce pour l’appartement à [quartier]. Est-ce que c’est encore disponible ? Je souhaiterais convenir d’une visite. Je m’appelle [nom], je commence un semestre à Lyon en septembre. Merci.

Est-ce que c’est disponible ? and Puis-je voir l’appartement cet après-midi ? are already on the housing page. Use vous. T’as un créneau ? is the wrong register.

The dossier they will ask for later: identity, the last three bulletins de salaire or a student proof, a garant if you do not have French income, and sometimes an avis d’imposition. People who write “Hi is this free??” in English do not get the link.

What you actually ask in the flat

They will say Je vous fais visiter. You say Merci and you walk.

• Les charges sont-elles comprises ? — then name eau, électricité, gaz, internet, ordures.
• Combien est la caution ?
• Quand pourrais-je emménager ?
• L’appartement est-il meublé ?
• Le chauffage est-il collectif ou individuel ?
• Y a-t-il un diagnostic de performance énergétique que je peux voir ?

Il y a de l’humidité dans la salle de bain is already on the housing page. Point, name it, take a photo. Charges comprises is not “all bills.” Electricity and internet are usually yours. Ask each one.

If it is a colocation, you are interviewing flatmates: how many people, the règlement intérieur, and when you can move in. Colocataire, not roommate.

Money words that are different in France

People say la caution. The legal name is le dépôt de garantie. For an unfurnished home it may not exceed one month of rent excluding charges. For a furnished principal residence it may not exceed two. Service-Public is blunt about both. A caution solidaire is a person who promises to pay if you do not — a different word, same conversation.

Other words that show up the day you sign:

• l’état des lieux — the inventory. Photograph everything on it.
• le prestataire / les honoraires — agency fees. For a primary home they are capped and split by law. Ask who pays what before you book.
• le préavis — notice. Often one month in a tense area, three in some unfurnished cases. Get the number in the bail.
• la GLI — unpaid-rent insurance the landlord buys. Not your problem unless they make it one.

Before you sign: Est-ce que je peux lire le bail tranquillement ? Then Le bail est-il d’un an ? A furnished student lease can be nine months. An unfurnished principal home is usually three years. Get the type in writing.

If you want it: L’appartement me plaît. Quelles sont les prochaines étapes ? Do not transfer a deposit to a stranger who will not meet you at the building.

If you do not: Merci pour la visite. Je vais réfléchir. You do not owe them a speech about the damp.