How do I find student accommodation in Strasbourg?
Mid-August, still no accommodation? You've had a succession of unanswered e-mails from landlords, offers you can't afford, and slum landlords offering you shabby rooms? Don't worry, AFGES will help you find a place to live this fall!
Be patient and methodical. Finding accommodation in Strasbourg can be a bit tricky, but it's not impossible.
If you can't find a place to stay, don't hesitate to contact us at hotline@afges.org !
Before getting started, a few tips :
Strasbourg is a dynamic city, but given the saturation of the real estate market during the back-to-school period, it's essential to start your search early. In fact, finding a place to live in Strasbourg in a week is nothing short of a miracle!
If possible, ask a friend or relative to accompany you in your search for and visit to your new home, for support and a second opinion.
Beware of offers that are too tempting or dubious, and don't trust AirBnB to provide you with accommodation while you look for it: prices are exorbitant at the start of the school year!
To be on the lookout for fraudulent ads, here's a site that gives advice on how to avoid falling into these traps >>. here <<
Finally, a simple web search using keywords such as “Logement Strasbourg” or “Où trouver un logement sur Strasbourg” can lead you to sites offering apartments.
How do I find private accommodation?
To find private accommodation, you can choose to go through an estate agency. This option is simpler, as an advisor will look for accommodation on your behalf, but it does come at a cost: an agency fee of around €260.
You can choose to look at the advertisements on numerous websites, which have many offers for Strasbourg. It is important to look at them every day: student accommodation goes quickly:
- Adele,
- BienIci,
- De Particulier à particulier,
- HousingAnywhere
- SeLoger
- Fédération nationale de l’immobilier
- Logic-Immo
- À vendre, à louer,
- Lebonboin
The CROUS also posts advertisements for low-cost accommodation every Monday and Thursday at 12 noon on the website Lokaviz. They disappear very quickly (15 to 20 minutes on average), so you'll need to be reactive and patient!
Note that this year, the average price for a studio between 20 and 30m² is 566€ (without APL) in Strasbourg: we advise you to look in the Esplanade, Krutenau, Neudorf and Gare districts... and avoid the historic center! You can also find apartments on the outskirts of Strasbourg (Illkirch, Schiltigheim...), but beware of transport times!
And don't accept the first substandard accommodation you're offered: there are enough small apartments in good condition in Strasbourg to accommodate everyone, so don't fall into the trap of living in a slum for a year or more!
If you have any problems with the owners (scams, racism...) contact us directly on hotline@afges.org !
How do I find a flatshare?
In your search for private accommodation, you'll sometimes come across shared flats: it's an opportunity to find a bigger place, and sometimes a cheaper one!
There are many websites to choose from:
ToitchezMoi.com which offers home-stay accommodation in exchange for services,
Domial which offers shared accommodation in partnership with AFEV,
Cotoiturage which offers shared accommodation for students, young professionals, seniors, families ...
You can also find passing offers on the Facebook groups “. Etudiants de Strasbourg » or « Université de Strasbourg ».
What about CROUS student residences?
An unbeatable price, but only a few places!
CROUS of Strasbourg offers more than 5,500 accommodations (rooms or studios) in 13 residences in Strasbourg, for 55,000 students at the University of Strasbourg.
To qualify, French students must first create a Dossier Social Etudiant (DSE) at messervicesetudiants, they will then be able to apply for housing between May and July. A main allocation phase will take place in several rounds until July.
Then, from the beginning of July, the complementary phase opens, enabling all students, whether scholarship holders, non-scholarship holders or international students, to consult the housing offers remaining available at the end of the initial allocation phase and to submit applications.
For students who have not followed the above timetable, a place in a CROUS room or studio at the start of the new academic year is far from guaranteed: most accommodation has already been allocated.
However, from the end of August, you can consult Crous accommodation offers at trouverunlogement.lescrous.fr . It's worth noting that at the start of the school year, the remaining accommodation is taken by storm. This year, unless there are any cancellations, they're already full!
What about social landlords?
It's like private housing, but cheaper!
There are many social landlords. Among them, we recommend Amitel, an association offering accommodation for young workers and students aged between 18 and 30 in Strasbourg. Their website lists all their residences throughout Strasbourg. Amitel also offers a support service to help you find accommodation: caploji !
The aim of this service is to inform young people about the conditions for accessing independent accommodation and to teach them about their rights and the obligations with which they will then have to comply.
They also offer Maison Universitaire Internationale for international students: the University of Strasbourg's international welcome service is located in this building.
The Mutuelle Générale des Étudiants also offers accommodation in 3 residences in Strasbourg, near the station.
How do I get social housing?
Social housing is pretty hard to get if you're a student.
You can find all the information you need on Eurometropole 's website.
The process can take a long time, you need to be patient, and it can take several years for the application to be successful!
How do I get a place in a hostel?
Hostels can be an interesting alternative to private or one-off accommodation, but unfortunately they are often overbooked in September. These hostels are denominational but generally open to all.
You can find out more fromAssociation Foyer Notre Dame, from Chapitre de Saint-Thomas (Le Stift, le , Sturm and Sept), and the Foyer des étudiants catholiques.
What housing assistance is available?
Normally, by the time you've read this article, you'll already have a dozen tabs open in your web browser. On these sites, you will often find offers that are a little too high for your budget: there are a number of generally well-known forms of assistance available to help you find accommodation.
The Caisse d'Allocation Familiales (CAF) has simplified the housing assistance application process for students, allowing them to apply and track their applications online at their website.
More informations : www.caf.fr/allocataires/actualites/2019/aide-au-logement-etudiant (available in French, English and Spanish).
What is the VISALE guarantee?
When you are looking for accommodation, landlords will ask you for a guarantor: if no-one can vouch for you, the government has set up a guarantee : VISALE.
VISALE is a deposit granted to tenants by Action Logement. It covers the payment of rent and service charges in the event of non-payment. This free, reliable guarantee will make it easier for you to find accommodation and reassure landlords.
Please note: VISALE is a fairly recent scheme and not all landlords accept it! If a landlord refuses you, you can write to us at hotline@afges.org .
Action Logement also offers other forms of assistance depending on your situation to help you find accommodation (security deposit advance, rent subsidy for work-study students).
How do scholarships based on social criteria work?
If you have limited resources, you may be entitled to a scholarship based on social criteria to help finance your studies.
The Dossier Social Etudiant (DSE) is the procedure that enables students to apply for a grant based on social criteria and/or accommodation in Crous halls of residence.
This application must be made online every year from 1 March to 31 May.
There are a large number of students who are eligible for this aid, and who don't apply for it every year, so don't hesitate to ask!
How can I benefit from specific assistance?
Students experiencing financial difficulties can apply for assistance under the Crous of Strasbourg's specific aid scheme.
A one-off grant may be awarded to students enrolled in courses that entitle them to student social security. This one-off grant is paid on a one-off basis and can be combined with a grant based on social criteria, an annual allowance, mobility aid or merit-based aid.
To apply for one-off assistance, you must contact the CROUS social services department. Subject to enrolment in the Académie de Strasbourg. The CROUS even offers a grant towards the purchase of a computer!
CROUS of Strasbourg also offers annual financial aid to people who do not qualify for a grant based on social criteria, depending on their situation.
Still not found? : The Dispositif de Logement Provisoire
If all this advice doesn't help you find somewhere to live, there are temporary solutions to keep you off the streets.
We are offering an emergency accommodation scheme for students without accommodation between 26 August and 15 October. Details are available on this website !
A free number, 115, can also help you avoid sleeping rough.
Every AFGES volunteers wish you good luck in your search for accommodation! If you have any problems, contact us at hotline@afges.org, or get in touch with your faculty association!
