Alas it's still silver skies in Paris this weekend. I've been braving the cold & rain all week to look for apartments and the hunt continues today. I've applied for two lovely apartments in the Marais - one of which was my dream apartment! - but am still in the middle of negotiations. Dream Apartment is asking for 6 months' rent as a caution bancaire (yes, this is perfectly legal in France, and some landlords ask for even up to 1 year's rent - I shall post more on this later) and Great Back-Up Apartment requires an interview with the landlord whom I will meet on Monday. Otherwise, I'm continuing to check out more places, because in Paris, you just never know. In the meantime, here are some photos from my countless walks between Ile Saint-Louis (where I am temporarily staying) and the Marais as I head from one apartment visit to the other. The bridges know me well by now. :) Fingers crossed and spirits high!
Phu! I don't even want to think about when that day (when I have to rent an apartment that way) comes along for me. This sounds so complicated and expensive. Crazy! Well, I really hope you'll find something soon. I'm crossing all the fingers I have for you!
ReplyDeleteAnd gosh, I really miss those bridges. They used to be a part of my morning walk to the métro every single day. Can't wait to come back there :)
xx Carin
Good luck!!! We have ongoing trouble with our landlord :( plus it doesn't help she doesn't even live in France!
ReplyDeleteThe things you have to do to get a home around here!!
Lize xx
www.lizemilson.com
6 months rent is ridiculous! But I think I'd prefer that to the stupid garantía system in Bs. As. Seriously, I'd rather just buy an apartment than rent under that system.
ReplyDeleteAh, the joys of apartment hunting in Paris. They are so finicky about every little detail that it's close to impossible to get a decent apartment! Most of the places we looked at turned us down because I didn't have a CDI at the time, yet collectively we had enough monthly income to pay the rent 3 times...yet it still wasn't enough. C'est chiant.
ReplyDeleteI wish you good luck (I'm sure you'll be fine, eventually somethings gotta give) and keep us posted!!
Grey Paris still looks romantic. I enjoy walking around Paris and crossing those Bridges too. I hope you will get an apartment soon. I added your Blog onto my Blog's list of Inspirational Blogs. Bonne weekend.
ReplyDeleteI shall keep everything crossed for you! They keep saying it's going to snow here, I'm ignoring them ;o)
ReplyDeleteHow cold is it right now?
ReplyDeleteThe pictures look good, mind you. Gloomy but nice!
I hope you manage to find a long-term apartment here one day! It is a great quartier - I'm starting to fall in love with it myself :)
ReplyDeleteAh yes, the garantía system is a nightmare also! How does it work in Sao Paulo btw? I'm curious!
ReplyDeleteYes, there's nothing like apartment hunting in Paris to teach you perseverance. I haven't been rejected for anything this many times since, well... ever! Nothing like a little bit of France for an ego boost :)
ReplyDeleteAww thank you so much Pamela! I really appreciate that :)
ReplyDeleteWhat?! It's going to snow? Is that normal for Scotland in January? I guess it's quite far up north...
ReplyDeleteIt was 1'C earlier this week (which is absurdly cold for Paris) but today it's about 5'C. Still bloody cold when you count the wind chill factor! It drops to about -1'C at night. What about on your side of the pond?
ReplyDeleteGood luck on your apartment hunt! Paris is such a lovely city!
ReplyDeleteI love that area even is the cold!
ReplyDeleteThe weather looks like Dublin's weather :-( Le Marais is my fav district of Paris. Best of luck with the horrendous French renting rules!
ReplyDeleteSame thing, but in Portuguese it's "fiador". We sublet a room from someone we met through someone we Couchsurfed with.
ReplyDeleteFingers crossed and spirits high! I love that phrase, it's my first time hearing it. Sending you tons of positive vibes! Good luck on it :-)
ReplyDeleteOh yeah, totally normal, we have ski centres and everything. Doesn't mean i want it to happen though lol
ReplyDeleteOh what beautiful photographs.. so romantic and tranquil. I now realise that both you and Carin currently live within metres from me.
ReplyDeleteNow onto the second part of my comments, "SIX MONTHS UP TO A YEAR??" and this is legal??? How the? What the? I mean that's a down payment to buy your own place (well at least in Australia) I'm still blurred on the whole housing market in Paris. Hope you can shed some light on this one day Milsters. Good luck on the negotiation for the dream apartment and interview for the backup place tomorrow! xxxxx
I saw your post on FB about the money the landlord wants to charge you and was like, "SAY WHAT NOW?!" I hope it all gets sorted soon and you can sign a lease without taking out a mortgage :)
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