University halls of residence

Cergy-Pontoise University has an agreement with the Regional University Facilities Centre (CROUS), which manages university accommodation. The agreement means that the university is able to offer rooms to its EXCHANGE STUDENTS. The International Relations Department can reserve available rooms in the university halls of residence. Students wishing to take advantage of this service should submit their application at least three months before arriving on campus.

RESERVING A ROOM

Students wishing to reserve a room in one of the three halls of residence should return the application form to the International Relations Dept. Applicants should also include an international Bank transfert in the amount of one month’s rent for the desired accommodation.
This amount will be refunded in full upon departure, if the student has :
• no outstanding rent in respect of his/her accommodation,
• left the room clean and tidy,
• returned the keys on leaving,
• not canceled his reservation after 1st of September.

Once permission to live in a hall of residence has been given, students may apply for financial aid - known as “APL” (Aide Personnalisée au Logement) - to help them with the rent. When students arrive at the hall of residence, they are required to pay for and occupy the rooms themselves - sub-letting is not allowed, for the duration of their studies :
• for students staying for the full academic year, rent is due from September to June ;
• for students staying for the first semester only, rent is due from September to January inclusive ;
• for students staying for the second semester only, rent is due from February to June inclusive.

The CROUS requires that students take out public liability & accommodation insurance.

Key words and abreviations

Key words

- Dépôt de garantie
Deposit for housing that corresponds to one or two months of rent and that is payable with the first month’s rent. This sum will be cashed and will be reimbursed only at the end of your stay of you have left your accommodation in the same condition as when you arrived.

- Contrat de location or Bail
Lease indicating the length of the rental period, the names of the tenant and the owner, the rent, the deposit, and the notice period. This document is signed by both the tenant and the owner and is legally binding.

- État des lieux
Inventory of the apartment before occupancy and at the end of your stay. If you leave your accommodation in the same condition as when you arrived, your deposit will be reimbursed.

- Assurance multi-risques-habitation
Insurance policy taken out by the tenant that covers fire and water damage, etc.

Abbreviations
CC or Cc : includes service charges
TCC : includes all service charges
T1 or F1 : the number of rooms
M2 : surface area in square metres
PK/GAR : car park or garage
ET : floor
RDC : ground floor
ASC : lift
INT/DIG : digicode, intercom/code entry system
SDB : bathroom
KITCH : kitchen area, small kitchen

Private sector housing

- Youth information centre (CIJ)
1, place des Arts, Cergy-Préfecture
Phone : 01 34 41 67 67
http://cij.valdoise.fr/

- Real estate agencies
You can also find housing through a real estate agent who serves as a middleman between you and the landlord. However, this service is not free and usually costs the equivalent of one month’s rent, sometimes more.

- Where to find advertisements ?
De particulier à particulier : http://www.pap.fr/
La centrale du particulier : http://www.lacentrale.fr/
http://www.seloger.com/

- Flat shares
www.colocation.fr
www.appartager.com
www.easycoloc.com

Financial aid for housing

Foreign students can apply to the French government for financial aid to pay their rent. This subsidy is paid by the CAF (Caisse d’Allocation Familiale) and is called the APL (Aide Personnalisée au Logement). The amount depends on the rent and your financial resources.

To receive financial aid you need to fill out an application for the CAF. You can also apply via the Internet : www.caf.fr

Caisse d’allocations familiales (CAF)
2, place de la Pergola
Cergy-Préfecture 95000 Cergy
Phone : 01 820 25 95 10.