Useful Information

Disability and studying are perfectly compatible: adapted solutions allow students with disabilities to access higher education courses and facilitate their professional integration. The website Handi U offers valuable information on the accessibility, facilities and support conditions that the universities provide; assistance, accommodation and transport. 

Specifically: Fac-Habitat provides housing for students with reduced mobility.

Direct debit is the most commonly used method of payment because it is quick and simple.

You will only need to fill out the withdrawal authorisation provided when signing your lease then you won't forget to pay the rent!

You don't have to worry about your rent, the amount due is debited automatically on the last day of the month, from the bank account provided.

This area is entirely dedicated to FAC-HABITAT tenants.

You will find information about your accommodation (view your account online, payment due notices and secure payment of your rent) as well as the details of your nearest agent.

Once a year, you will pay council tax (local taxes). This tax is due when you are living in the premises on 1 January of the tax year.

You will receive a notice from the Public Treasury specifying you amount as well as the address of the Treasury responsible for recovery.

Specifically: Observe the deadline for payment, because after that your tax will be increased by

10%, plus recovery costs. In case of difficulty, please contact the public treasury directly.

The VMC

This is a system which allows you to renew the air which circulates in your home, as well as  removing moisture and dust in order to mitigate the risk of mould, fungi in bathrooms, and prevent your wallpaper from peeling off &

There are 2 types of openings: Those with automatic flow and those with variable flow operated by cords. The former are usually located in bathrooms, the latter in kitchens, remember to open them when you cook.

You must never block them.

You must clean them once a month.

To do this, remove the opening completely, clean the grate as well as the membrane that is located inside with soapy water, dry everything and put the opening back in position.

Air inlets

These are located on the windows of your home and allow air to get in. Under no circumstances should you block them.

You must clean them every three months.

The fridge

Remember to defrost it every month. Leave the thermostat on 3.

When you are away, turn the thermostat down.

Electric hotplates

You should never clean them with lots of water, use a damp sponge after coating them with an oven cleaning spray product.

If you get the hotplates too wet, they will disconnect. In this case, wait for 2 or 3 days before reusing, so they are dry. If the problem persists, tell your Upkeep and Maintenance Manager.

Finally, in order to avoid condensation problems in your bathroom, get into the  habit of leaving the door ajar, mainly after having taken a shower to enable better ventilation of the room.

Foreign students have the right, as do all students, to housing assistance. The only additional document to provide will be their residence permit, valid for more than four months and valid for the current academic year. This measure is applicable to all foreign nationals, including those originating in the EEC.

Specifically: Don't wait to receive your residence permit before finally returning your ALS or APL file (it may take more than three months to receive it!): return your incomplete file to the CAF. You can send a copy of the residence card as soon as you receive it.

CAF Simulation and APL requests

FAC-HABITAT suggests you conduct an advisory visit by appointments before your final moving out schedule of condition. Free of charge, it allows to find out about any repairs for which you are liable, as well as an estimate of their cost.

The Moving out schedule of condition will be carried out at the time of your departure, when returning the keys. It is important for both parties to notify any findings regarding housing in writing

The lease also called a rental contract allows you to formalise the rental and thus defines the tenant and owner's obligations.
The lease is a compulsory document during any rental which must be written and signed by both parties.
It is essential to acquire the status of tenant.

It is made in 2 copies, 1 of which will be given to you. You must keep it some safe, you can use it as proof of residence.

The security deposit is an amount paid by the tenant to FAC-HABITAT to ensure the execution of their rental obligations.
It corresponds to 1 month's rent excluding charges. It is returned in its entirety within the legal time limit of 60 days following the end of your lease if you are not liable for any sums payable to FAC-HABITAT and if the housing is in a good condition.

Specifically: There are schemes to help pay the security deposit: The loca-Pass.
For all information, visit, for example, the website www.aidologement.com or www.actionlogement.fr.

A deposit is generally requested when the tenant's income is insufficient. The guarantor is the person who guarantees the deposit. They undertake to comply with all the obligations in place of the tenant if the latter can no longer cope with the payment.

Garantme offers a rent guarantee service! Garantme guarantees the landlord's income for the tenants without guarantor with a complete, analyzed, certified and guaranteed file.

Garantme allows you to rent at Fac-Habitat when you do not have a guarantor. To obtain the guarantee, simply make a request on their website (click here); and in 24h Garantme comes back to you. When your room is allocated to you, you pay a fee to Garantme who sends you the guarantee.

The Moving in schedule of condition is a document signed by the lessee and Fac-Habitat, which is used to describe the state of the housing when moving in. It helps to make a sort 'snapshot' of the condition of the accommodation prior to moving in and precedes the handover of keys.

It is important for both parties to notify any findings regarding the accommodation in writing. It will be the same when you leave.

Housing assistance

APL (Personalised Housing Allowance) or ALS (Social Housing Allowance) are forms of assistance paid out by the Family Allowance Fund which you may receive (according to certain criteria). An application file will be offered to you when signing the lease. If you wish, our advisers are available to help you complete this fie. It must be submitted by you, to the CAF (Family Allowance Fund), before the end of the first month of living in the accommodation.

We advise you to make a calculation simulation for any housing assistance which you may receive.

Specifically: You can only receive this assistance if the lease is in your name. Â On the other hand, it cannot be combined with family allowance.

Aide Mobili-Jeune

Everyone aged 30 and under in vocational training (apprenticeship, vocational or sandwich course in a non-agricultural private sector company) is entitled to a grant of up to 100€ per month for 6, 12 or 18 months.

For T&Cs and application forms, please visit the website:

 http://www.astria.com/mobili-jeune/index.php?f=fachabitat

Home insurance is mandatory. It will have to be taken out before entering the premises, and presented to Fac-Habitat no later than when the keys are handed over. When signing your lease, and in order to assist you with your administrative formalities, Fac-Habitat will offer you multi-risk home insurance.

It is very important and will cover the property in case of tenant risks.

You will need to produce your insurance certificate each year.

Specifically: In case of fire or water damage, you will need to fill out the following PDF document and return it to your insurance company as soon as possible

Perhaps are you one of the students who are entitled to a grant? Grants based on social criteria, merit grants or DEA-DESS grants &

Check with yourCROUS (centre responsible for student social services), it would be a shame to miss out!

The CROUS manage the DSE (Student Social File) which allows you to simultaneously apply for grants and housing, online (www.cnous.fr).

The banks offer "special student" loans of up to 50,000Â ¬. The repayments are made at the end of the study periods.

However, make sure you negotiate the rate well so as not to be over indebted and make the most of the competition: the family banker will not necessarily make the best offer!

Specifically: A loan may be one solution to finance your studies or other projects, but your student status also gives you access to specific rather favourable terms offered by the banks.

A move requires preparation... To avoid any problems, it is best to think ahead and prepare your move, rather than improvise. If you're moving into a studio or a place with two-rooms you don't need to use professionals, they are strong and effective, but too expensive for such a small move! Choose the good old method which has proven to be effective: enlist your family and friends, rent a vehicle and get on the road!

 For the vehicle

Use a category C utility vehicle i.e. 9 m2. The rental agencies have almost all identical offers. The problem is if you're a young driver. In all cases, you must be at least 21 years old and have held a B licence for at least 12 months. Most agencies impose a surcharge, which is often costly, for drivers under 25 years old. The best solution may be to ask one of your parents to drive the vehicle. Finally, please note that the rates are less expensive during the week.
Also, make sure that everything can fit in your new building: can grand-mother's cabinet go up the staircase? Can the sofa bed get through the entrance passageway?
Web:www.ada.fr, www.europcar.fr, www.hertz.fr, www.rentacar.fr, www.sixt.fr

 Boxes

Don't let anyone other than you pack the boxes, otherwise you won't know how to find your things after the move. Remember to have a system when packing your boxes (all kitchen items in the same box, etc.) and clearly indicate what they contain. Remember to prepare a survival box for your first day in the apartment. To avoid having to unpack it all straight away.
You may be able to get some boxes from hypermarkets. With a little luck, you can get a few, find out the delivery days and times!

Change of address

A few days before the move:

•  notify your insurer,
•  notify your bank,
•  cancel your electricity, gas and telephone accounts,
•  open new accounts,
•  transfer your subscriptions to magazines or newspapers to the new address,
•  complete a form at the Post Office to forward your mail.

A few days after the move:

•  notify the tax office of your change of address: the tax office and the treasury of your former home, the tax office for your new home.
•  register on the electoral register.

Specifically: You can also declare your change of address directly online: My public service

And / or redirect your mail online for a period of 6 to 12 months renewable: Redirection The Post Office