Renting a house in France is a good idea if you plan on living there for more than a few months as staying in a hotel will surely cost you a bundle. Apartments in France are easily available but finding one can be tough if you don’t speak French. The best place to start your search is in one of the country’s classifieds, though you may have to go through several sources before you find one that suits you. Rental laws in France favor the tenant as opposed to the landlord and sometimes local tenants may take advantage of this by refusing to pay rent and not vacating the apartment. This may work in favor of foreign tenants, as they are less liable to do this. However some landlords may not favor tourists as they cant provide the necessary financial guarantees.

Another way of finding an apartment is to go to an apartment renting agency though they are not often very professional and you may have to pester them before they find you an apartment. To apply for an apartment you may have to fill up a dossier, which is a formal application for rent. For this you will need a copy of your passport or national identity card (carte d'identité), proof that you have an income of at least three times the rent. You will also have to pay 2 months rent in advance. This is usually common practice all over France. The rents in different regions will however differ, with expensive apartments in the south of France, along the French Riviera and costal cities like Marseille.