The process of looking for an apartment in Paris was nothing like I expected. If you are looking to do the same thing be prepared for a whole different world.

The first part was easy, finding the listings. The primary and biggest source is a magazine and website called Particulier à Particulier or pap.fr. They have a huge amount of the market. Sometimes you can find great deals through networking too but I had no such luck.

The second part was a little less easy and that was going to the apartments. Most of them had viewing times that you had to go to with some being as small a window as 15 minutes. Of course they were often around the same time on the same day and if you wanted to see more than one you have to take into consideration the amount of time it takes on the metro to get from one to the other. Consequently, I was lucky to see a handful a week.

Then when you got to the apartment, it was anyone's guess as to what you would be finding. One of the first ones that I saw was like a dark little tunnel. It was the equivalent of 100 sq. ft and set up with one window on the far end in the bathroom. Therefore the living space was with no natural light whatsoever. The size included the bathroom and kitchen area. The window looked out over a tiny courtyard but you wouldn't see that unless you were in the bathroom. Another apartment that I went to immediately set me on edge by simply walking to the apartment. It was one of the rougher areas of town. I stood there waiting to go in and see it for about 5 minutes before I decided that it wasn't worth my time and I should hustle over to the next apartment on my list. I knew that I had made the right decision when on my return to the metro there was a big fight in the street.

After many trials, I find one that I liked over in a nice area called Villiers. The apartment was a nice size compared to many I had seen. It was not in an older building unfortunately but it was near a nice pedestrian street. I turned in my info and had a nice chat with the lady. She seemed like she liked me but then there were 12,000 other people there too just like everywhere else. This was one of the challenges to deal with. Every single apartment, even the ugliest, had a line to see it and try to get chosen. I hoped though.

The other thing that I was fighting against is that everyone here wants what is called a guarantee. This means that someone has to sign a contract for you saying that they will pay the expenses if you fail to pay your rent. This was so difficult and I fought against it. I didn't know anyone who would do it and I didn't like to ask. I felt like I was old enough in life to be able to speak for myself. Well, that just doesn't matter and as I found out more, I found out why.

In France the laws are set up in favor of the renter to an extremely heavy degree. I am not just talking about it being a little more favorable but out of control. If you rent to someone who doesn't pay there rent then it will take you 2 years to get them out, on the average and you won't get any recompense for it. If someone moves in illegally then you still have the same problem. A squatter can take over the place and not pay you and take 2 years to be physically evicted. They also do not have the system of credit checks here because the French have considered it to be taboo to share such information as that. The funny thing to me is that in trying to prevent people sharing your credit info, the result is that you have to do things that to me seem even more private. For example they ask to see your work contract and your last three pay stubs and your income tax papers. I personally think that they end up sharing pore information this way that is private.

So I was starting to understand but I still didn't have anyone who would sign the paper for me. I happened to be discussing the problem at work when my boss said that maybe she would be able to help out. And a few weeks later, I was defeated enough that I actually went to her and asked if she would do it. I actually thought I was going to cry because of having to ask it. I had found another apartment that I really took to and the lady really liked me and wanted me to get the apartment but she couldn't do it without that paper. That was when I finally went and asked my boss.

The apartment that I found did not have everything I wanted but it had a lot for the price that I could afford at this time. The two major things that I lost were size and light. I wanted a 15 sq m. apartment (161sq ft.) but I ended up with 10 sq. m. (107 sq ft). The apartment is on the ground floor and therefore is really lacking in natural light. I really must use the lights all day.

What I gained was a really nice area. I lived on the back side of Montmartre in a really nice little triangle with a lot of commerce and a pedestrian street. Immediately when I came out of the metro the first time, I liked the neighborhood. I have three windows so that I can always get ventilation, hard to find. And I have my very own tiny courtyard. It isn't technically mine but I am the only one with access to it. The huge French doors onto it make the space feel just a little bigger than it is. The fittings are very nicely done too. It has real marble floors, walls in the bathroom and kitchen backsplash. It has varnished pine cupboards, armoire and a mezzanine for the bed. There is a little furniture and 2 real wool carpets of the oriental type covering the floor. So all in all for 515 euros, I did all right.