Frequently Asked Questions

Save time, get answers to the most frequently asked questions.

• - costs
• - the rent
• - profiles and deposits
• - misc

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Costs

• How much are agency fees for renting a furnished apartment?

The cost of rent and the duration of the lease determine agency fees.

Specifically:

- 1 to 3 months: 25% before tax of the total rent

- 3 to 11 months: 1 month's rent

- 11+ months: 13% before tax of the annual rent

Agency fees are payable by the tenant.

• Are electricity bills included in the rent?

Since it is difficult to work out each user's average electricity bill, it is not included in the rent published online.

The tenant pays for electricity in one of the following ways.

The tenant transfers the electricity bill into his or her name during the schedule of condition, and pays EDF, the electricity provider, directly.

The owner decides on an amount, renegotiable at the end of the lease, and adds it to the tenant's monthly rent.

The owner reads the electricity meter when the tenant enters and vacates the premises, and deducts the corresponding amount from the security deposit.

• Are Internet access costs included in the rent?

Internet costs and telephone bills are personal expenses and as such payable by the tenant.

The tenant signs up with a service provider in his/her name and pays the provider directly.

The tenant can also pay the landlord a monthly sum added to the monthly rent.

• Internet is not available in the apartment I wish to rent. Who pays for setting it up?

The tenant pays for installation costs and Internet running costs through the ISP he/she has chosen.

Not sure who to turn to? Book a Flat is happy to help. We'll put you in touch with our partner Ordinateam, home I.T. specialists.

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The rent

• What does the rental amount advertised for each property correspond to?

It's the net monthly rent payable to the owner.

• I'd like an overall cost estimate, can it be done?

Naturally, we can email you a detailed overall costs estimate for all the costs of renting the property you have selected. Just click on "Request info" once you've selected a property, enter your details without forgetting to specify the duration required. You can also easily get information about the monthly rent, the security deposit, and the agency dues on each property page.

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Profiles and deposits

• How much is the security deposit?

The security deposit usually equals two months' rent, or 1 month if the lease duration is less than 1 month.

IMPORTANT

The security deposit is cashed by the landlord who will return it to the tenant within 30 days of the end of the lease.

• Should I take out comprehensive household insurance?

Yes - it's compulsory. The tenant must take out comprehensive household insurance before moving in. The policy provides cover in the event of a fire, leak, theft, etc. All insurance companies and most banks have such policies on offer. If you'd like to go through an insurance broker, we can put you in touch with our partner, Nasco Karaoglan France.

• What is a rental profile?

It's a file with all the documents attesting to the identity and the income of the potential tenant. Once the profile has been compiled, the confidential file is sent to the owner for approval. If the owner gives the go-ahead, we draw up the lease.

The following documents must be provided:

- passport/photo id

- pay slips or other documents proving any other sources of income

- passports/photo ids and proof of income for each guarantor ("caution solidaire")

- your most recent tax return

• What is the "caution solidaire"?

Equivalent to a guarantor in the Anglo-Saxon world, a "caution solidaire" is a signed commitment by a third party-generally a relative or close friend earning a higher income than the tenant-which acts as a guarantee for the payment of rent.

Some landlords require a "caution solidaire". In such cases, we provide the tenant a caution solidaire template to be copied and signed by the guarantor.

• What is a "caution bancaire"?

It's a performance bond. The tenant must set aside on his/her bank account a sum equivalent to 6 or 12 months' rent.

The sum is a guarantee if the tenant fails to pay his/her rent.

Some landlords require a "caution bancaire".

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Misc

• I'd like to view an apartment. How should I proceed?

Once you've checked whether the property is available for the duration you'd like to rent for, call us to arrange a meeting on:
+ 33 1 47 03 14 20

Viewings are free for up to three apartments.

• Who should I contact if something goes wrong?

An electricity blackout, an appliance breaks down, a leak, the Internet goes down: these things can happen.

If you opted for the Carefree Management Solution, call us on 01 47 03 14 20. We'll arrange for a professional to fix the problem asap.

If you opted for the Tenant Selection Solution, please call your landlord who will fix the problem.

• I'd like to extend my lease. How?

Call us on 01 47 03 14 20. Many leases, although of fixed length, can be tacitly renewed. Others require that a new lease be drawn up and agency fees invoiced.