FAQ

Find quick
and simple answers

  • Colocatère rental terminology
  • Documents for property renting
  • Moving in
  • Rent, utility charges and taxes
  • During the rental period
  • My Client Space
  • Leaving the property
  • Emergencies & issues
  • Lease agreement

    The house-share lease agreement is an individual furnished lease with no co-tenancy between housemates for their primary residence.

  • The security deposit

    For a furnished lease, the landlord may request up to 2 months of rent as a security deposit. Here at COLOCATERE, we ask for 1 month of rent, excluding bills, for the security deposit.

  • Guarantor

    We accept institutional guarantees such as GARANTIE VISALE, SMART GARANT or GARANT ME. The guarantor may also be a natural person who signs a contract committing them t guarantee the payment of any sums owed by the tenant, expressly and indivisibly accepting full personal liability.

  • Rental repairs

    Rental repairs are invoiced to tenants during the lease and/or when they move out. The list is exhaustive and governed by legislation.

  • Inspections

    The inspection is mandatory. For move-in and move-out. The tenant must be present for inspections unless a duly authorised representative is notified to the landlord. In the event of any disagreements or disputes, the landlord may refer the matter to court bailiffs for an inspection.

  • Notice

    Notices officially confirm the move-out date. In a zone tendue (an area with high demand for housing), the notice period is 1 month. The notice period is calculated based on the receipt of letter sent with tracked delivery and acknowledgement of receipt or evidence of the landlord delivering the notice directly.

  • Proxy

    The tenant's presence is mandatory during inspections. However, the tenant may choose to grant proxy to a third party to represent them. To do this, they'll need to inform the landlord and provide them with the proxy authorisation and the representative's ID. The inspection will bear the same value as though the tenant was present.

  • What documents do I need to apply for a house-share?

    To apply, you'll need to provide the following documents: Proof of address or past 3 receipts of rent payments - Valid ID document - Proof of financial affordability with payslips and tax statement or guarantors

  • What type of lease is used in a house-share?

    It's a primary residence, furnished individual lease with no co-tenancy clauses.

  • Which guarantor should you choose for your application?

    You can choose the GARANTIE VISALE – GARANT ME or SMART GARANT. If you opt for a natural person as your guarantor, they'll need to meet the affordability conditions (income at least 3 times the total rent excluding bills)

  • What do I need to prepare for moving in?

    Before getting the keys to your new home, you'll need to make an appointment with your manager for your move-in inspection, send them your MRH certificate which certifies that the accommodation will be insured, and you'll also need to pay the current month's rent, bills, the security deposit, and any agency fees.

  • The house or apartment is marketed as fully furnished — what does that include exactly?

    The home is fully equipped with household appliances such as a washing machine, a fridge, etc., and it's decorated and furnished. You'll need to remember to bring your own bedding and pillows!

  • Where can I find my rent certificate (attestation de loyer) for the CAF?

    Your CAF certificate can be found directly in your rental space.

  • How do I take out the MRH (multi-risk home) insurance?

    We've teamed up with YVON (add link) so that you'll be ticking the job off your to-do list within 2 minutes!

  • Will I be entitled to housing financial support?

    Yes, as the lease is for your primary residence, you'll be entitled to the housing financial support that you're eligible for.

  • Which documents do I need for moving in?

    When you move in, you'll need to hand over your lease agreement, dated, signed and initialled at the bottom of each page. The guarantor agreement will also need to be provided, if applicable. Your MRH policy certificate and the payment of any outstanding sums also need to be provided!

  • When should I schedule my inspection for?

    The inspection date and time should be agreed upon with the manager, in line with availability, during the agency's opening hours.

  • What does the rent include?

    The rent is a global sum and may include an additional rent payment, which will be specified if it's the case.

  • What do the utility charges include?

    Utility charges may include: Water, electricity, gas, and internet bills, property management fees, and household waste disposal taxes.

  • What is an additional rent payment?

    An additional rent payment may be factored into your rent, on top of the increased reference rent rate. It is specified and justified in the lease agreement.

  • How can I pay?

    We accept payments by direct debit (highly recommended), bank transfer, and cash payment under certain conditions.

  • Can I switch to direct debit during my rental period?

    Of course, in fact, we recommend it! It's a more practical, quicker and reliable payment method.

  • I've got new bank details (RIB), what do I need to do?

    You simply need to sign in to your space and contact your manager who will change the bank details (RIB) for the next payment collection.

  • Do I need to pay the taxe d'habitation?

    You currently do not need to pay the taxe d'habitation.

  • I'm struggling to pay my rent, what can I do?

    If you encounter any difficulties in paying your rent, you should immediately contact your manager via your tenant space and book an appointment with them, either face-to-face or over the phone, in order to arrange a payment schedule or to organise you moving out of the accommodation.

  • What are the private spaces and the communal areas in a house-share?

    Each housemate has exclusive access to their room, shower room and WC (if applicable). The rest of the property is considered to constitute "communal areas".

  • What are rental repairs?

    Rental repairs are invoiced to tenants during the lease and/or when they move out. The list is exhaustive and governed by legislation.

  • What should I do if I've damaged some furniture?

    You'll need to get an identical replacement. If you've got any doubts, you can get in touch with your manager via your tenant space and ask them for the product's reference. Failing this, the landlord will replace the damaged goods and charge you for them.

  • Who takes care of the housekeeping?

    Housekeeping chores should be done as a collective effort, shared between everyone. House-sharing is a lifestyle choice and you need to accept the rights and duties that come with it.

  • What can I find on my client space?

    On your client space, you'll find general information (contact details for your agency, name of your manager, your account balance, address of your accommodation, etc.), your rent payment receipts, certificates, the RIB (bank details) for SARL COLOCATERE, a chat space with your manager (general requests or maintenance requests), meter readings taken from your property, and your personal information.

  • I've forgotten my password, what can I do?

    There's a magic link that you can click to be signed in directly!

  • Where to find your access codes?

    You're given your access codes when you sign up.

  • How can I contact my manager through the messaging service?

    You just need to select the reason for your request and whether it's a message concerning all your housemates or just you, and then type out your message!

  • How and when do I give my moving-out notice?

    The notice can be either handed over directly to your manager or sent by letter with tracked delivery and acknowledgement of receipt to either your local agency or head offices.

  • When should I schedule my move-out inspection for?

    You should let your manager know that you're moving out as early as possible, particularly when it falls in busy periods such as summer, so you can set a date and time for the move-out inspection. You can also request a preliminary move-out inspection, depending on agency availability.

  • What do I need to prepare for moving out?

    You'll need to clean your room(s), shower room and WC. Remember to take your duvet to the laundrette for washing or buy a new duvet and, lastly, check that the communal spaces are clean, tidy and free of damage

  • Where can I find proof of my utility charge payments?

    You can find your rental account statement on your tenant space and it'll also be sent to you by your manager.

  • When do I get my security deposit back?

    French law stipulates that security deposits must be returned within 1 month of you moving out of the property and within 2 months if the move-out inspection doesn't find the property to be in the same condition as when you moved in. It is also essential that tenants provide us with their new/forwarding address during move-out inspections.

  • What should I do if there's an issue with the equipment in my house-share?

    You should let your manager know via your tenant space, indicating whether the issue is urgent or not. It's important that you attach any relevant photos and/or videos to your request in order to help us fully understand the issue.

  • What should I do if there's a leak or flood?

    If there's a leak or flood in your accommodation, the first thing to do is to shut off the water supply. If the leak continues, this means that the water is coming from a neighbouring property of from the building's water column. You'll need to report it to your manager via your tenant space as soon as possible, with any photos and videos.

  • What should I do if I lose my key or access badge?

    You'll need to go to the agency to ask for a copy. You'll be charged for this copy.

  • My neighbors are making too much noise, what can I do?

    I've got noisy neighbours, what can I do about them? It's important that we're all respectful and mindful of one another, especially when we make the choice to live in a house-share. If certain housemates are making too much noise, it's important to communicate with them and mutually find solutions, particularly by establishing "house rules".

Not found the answer to your question?

Our team is on-hand to answer any questions you may have and to support you with your search for the perfect house-share.

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