Accommodation

Some tips to help you find accommodation

Finding accommodation

Rent a flat

You may want to rent a place temporarily first then visit places for long-term rentals. One way to find a temporary (or even permanent) flat to rent or to share is by circulating an ad within your lab and other labs on the same campus: write a short note about what you're looking for and send it to your supervisor asking them to send it to the lab. You can also post it online:
• On this private Facebook group created by NeuroSchool
• On the Facebook group created by students
• On the Discord canal created by student
• The University housing platform

Student residences

Students may benefit from privileged access to student residences.
• However, getting a room is more likely in the second semester (January onward) and rather unlikely in the Fall.
• Similarly, researchers (including PhD students) can get access to temporary rentals through their labs (ask for help from your host lab!) using the LaboLog platform.
• Previous incoming students have been living at the Opale residence (near Saint-Charles), at the Cornil residence (near Timone) or at the Sylvabelle residence for researchers (near the Prefecture, in the city centre).

Note that the room you rent in these student residences (except at Sylvabelle) is only furnished but not equipped: you will need to bring/borrow/rent/buy items such as a pillow, bedding sheets, towels, cutlery, dishes, pots and pans...

Important: when you leave Marseille, make an appointment (48h in advance!) so that the residence people can check that your room is still in good condition. You should clean everything (bathroom, fridge, under the bed, door, windows...) and prop up your mattress and bed base.

Alternatives for renting a place

There are several alternatives for renting a place, the main difference is :
• that in one case you rent through an agency/real estate (Professionnel). Renting through an agency normally carries an associated fee (100-400 euros), a good starting place is www.seloger.com.
• in the other case you rent directly from the owner/handler (particulier). Renting directly from the owner (propriétaire) is cheaper, LeBonCoin is the most commonly used website. Some incoming students have also used the AirBnB or morningcroissant platforms to find accommodation.
Just be mindful that apartments posted in Leboncoin tend to go VERY fast, it is normally better to sign up for email alerts from Leboncoin in the morning and call directly when you see something you’re interested in (ask a French speaker to help you with this) if you send emails most of the time you don’t even get a reply.

Ask for the rent “TTC” (including agency fees) and “charges include”, which means all charges are included (this normally includes hot water). Always check for “hidden charges” before signing the contract: electricity, internet (if there’s not internet you might even have to pay for the installation!). Many owners tend to “forget to mention these” until you’re about to sign the contract.

Garant and notification of funding

Garant

Ask your lab/funding body for a notification, preferably in French, stating that you will get a PhD contract and receive a salary (specify the amount).

Link to a bilingual model of notification of funding

also useful to register at the university?

Accommodation certificate (Attestation d’hébergement)

If you live at someone else’s place, you may need an Accommodation certificate (Attestation d’hébergement) as proof of address. This online form allows you to customize the accommodation certificate model.

Home insurance

Wherever you end up living, upon arrival, you’ll need to contract home insurance (“assurance habitation”), for instance in any bank or on this website here (policy number 2) with the student residence address (in Marseille).

You will find more information about accommodation, including very detailed information about rental rules, here.