What to Look for in a Paris Apartment
Choosing an apartment in Paris is the single biggest decision you’ll have to make when planning your move to Paris. Fortunately, the internet makes it convenient to look for furnished Paris apartments before your arrival. Agencies and owners have web sites (some far easier to use than others) where you can search by price, neighborhood, or amenities, and see high quality photos of the apartments for rent.
So, what should you be looking for in a Paris apartment listing?
LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION: As a general rule, the lower the arrondissement number (closer to the city center), the higher the rent. Investigate the reputation of the neighborhoods you’re considering. Find out if the area is artsy, lively or quiet, residential, commercial, touristy, etc. You’ll also want to make sure there’s a supermarket nearby, and a laundromat if you’ll need one.
APARTMENT TYPE: “A chambre de bonne” is a former maid’s quarters on the top floor of a building, typically only accessible by stairs (i.e., the service entrance). They’re tiny and it WILL feel like you’re in an attic — because you are. If an ad doesn’t mention that it’s a chambre de bonne, the dead giveaway will be in the photos. Looked for a sloped ceiling and walls that meet at weird angles.
For those of you looking at studio apartments, you’ll see the terms “alcove,” “loft,” and “mezzanine.” If a studio has an alcove, it means that the sleeping area is physically separated from the main living area. “Loft” and “mezzanine” mean that you have to climb up a ladder to get to a bed located above.
METRO ACCESS: You can get to and from just about anywhere by Paris Metro, but some lines require more transfers to get to the city center than others (if that’s important to you). Check the Paris Metro map to see which metro stop your potential apartment is near.
FLOOR AND ELEVATOR (Etage and Ascenseur/Lift): What floor of the building is the apartment on, and if it’s higher than the ground floor, does the building have an elevator? If not, would you be OK with taking the stairs. Walk-up apartments are certainly cheaper, but keep in mind that you may have to climb the stairs with groceries, when you’re tired, in the summer heat, etc. Also, the first floor in Paris is what we consider the second floor in the U.S. “Ground floor” in Paris means “first floor” to us. For anything higher, add 1 to whatever floor number is listed in the ad. And remember that you may want to avoid the ground floor if you at all mind passersby looking in your window and seeing what you’re having for dinner.
VIEW: Does the apartment face the street or an inner courtyard? It might not matter if you’re on a quiet side street, but if you’re a light sleeper, you may want to avoid any possibility of late-night or early morning street noise.
SHOWER: Believe it or not, a stand-up shower is not a given in Paris. Many apartments have bathtubs only, or a bathtub or shower stall with a hand-held attachment. If a shower is important to you, confirm that the apartment has one.
BED SIZE: Make sure the apartment has a “double bed,” which is like a queen size bed. Some apartments have a full/twin bed, or will push two twin beds together to “make” a queen size bed. That doesn’t sound fun, does it?
OVEN: Many budget apartments will have a cooktop or “convection” stove, and maybe a toaster oven, but not a full-size oven. If you think you’ll want to roast a whole turkey or bake, make sure to check for an oven.
REFRIGERATORS: There’s nothing you can do about this, but I’m mentioning it just so you’re aware. Most furnished apartments in Paris have those half-refrigerators, like the one you had in your dorm room. Again, if you were planning on roasting a whole turkey…
WASHERS AND DRYERS: Most apartments in Paris do not have clothes dryers — Parisians dry their clothes on various fold-out contraptions. You can find apartments with a washing machine (and you’ll pay a little more for it), but you’ll likely have to move up to the luxury category to get both a washer and dryer.
PAYMENT POLICIES: What forms of payment does the agency/owner accept? (Use a credit card for your protection, if possible, and never wire money to someone you don’t know.)
This isn’t an exhaustive list by any means, but it should eliminate most of the Paris apartment hunt surprises you’ll encounter and help you narrow down your choices more quickly.
Related posts
Tags: Paris Apartments
