Where & how to look
There are a great many ways to search for accommodation in France. The most common is to use the websites of real estate agencies, or ads websites such as Leboncoin. Another, often underestimated option is through the grapevine: when a friend of a friend leaves their apartment or is looking for a flatmate ; or by using Facebook groups dedicated to accommodation search (whether on your own or as a flatsharing situation) ; or by looking at student residences.
The list below will show you different options and links to save.
Warning: if a prospective landlord asks you to send them a sum of money to "put an option" on a visit, it is a scam! Report them to the website/agency.
CROUS flats and residences are reserved to students (PhDs included) up to the age of 32.
- CLOUS Brest
2 Avenue Le Gorgeu - CS 31933
29219 Brest Cedex 2
T : 02 99 84 31 31
CLOUS Brest website
- ESPACIL
43A, rue Branda
29200 Brest
T : 02 98 43 30 83
ESPACIL website
ERASMUS PLAY
Erasmus Play is a search engine and comparison tool destined to students all over Europe, specifically looking for accommodation for their Erasmus exchange. It allows you to compare and find any accomodation available in a set city, all from verified platforms.
Private residences are usually more expensive than CLOUS studios. They offer more variety of rooms and flats. Some of them might come unfurbished.
Appart’études Brest / Pasteur
81 rue Robert Doisneau
29200 Brest
T : 02 98 46 36 06
Appart’études
Appart City Brest / Place de Strasbourg
16-18, rue du Vercors
29200 Brest
T : 02 98 42 62 01
Appart City
Univercity / Liberté
23, rue Duquesne
29200 Brest
T : 02 98 43 69 72
Residence website
Univercity / Technopôle
1360, route de Sainte-Anne
29280 Plouzané
T : 02 98 31 46 50
Residence website
Univercity / Saint-Luc
15, rue Jean Bon Saint-André
29200 Brest
T : 02 98 43 69 72
Residence website
Univercity / Recouvrance
3, petite rue Vauban
29200 Brest
T : 02 98 43 69 72
Residence website
Résidence étudiante Kley Brest
16 Rue Boileau
29200 Brest
KLEY Brest
Résidence étudiante NEMEA Brest
17 rue Auguste Kervern
29200 Brest
NEMEA Brest
Colocation Brest (Facebook group dedicated to flatsharing annoucements)
KLEY Brest (offers flatsharing options)
Association AILES (shared living between students and elders)
Groupe Barraine
Livin France Brest (website offering accommodation to international students specifically, with no guarantor needed. Use the code Winter2023 for 10% off your reservation)
The landlord rents their flat without using an agency as a middleman, which means no fees! Some flats come furbished, studios in particular.
The landlord uses an agency as a middleman (= fees to pay). It's rarer to find furbished studios.
It works similarly to real estate agencies, but the fees are cheaper.
Chambre départementale des notaires du Finistère
38 bis Boulevard Dupleix - B.P. 1135
29101 QUIMPER Cedex
Chambre des notaires du Finistère
If all else fails, you can look for temporary accommodation around Brest (Airbnbs, hostels, hotels, camping sites...).
Consulter l’Office du Tourisme de Brest pour la liste des différents types d’hébergement temporaires.
Site de l'Office de Tourisme de Brest
5 rue Kerbriant
Port de Plaisance du Moulin Blanc
29200 Brest
Housing for lower income households. To be eligible, you must have a residence permit of over 3 months, and your resources must be lower than the set threshold. Be aware that waiting times can be over a few months depending on the area and availability. It is advised to apply through the local HLM scheme and to the town hall.
Brest Métropole Habitat
68 rue Glasgow - BP 92251
29222 BREST Cedex 2
T : 02 29 00 45 00
Métropole Habitat
Habitat 29 - Office Public HLM du Finistère
6 Boulevard du Finistère - CS 33024
29334 QUIMPER CEDEX
T : 02 98 95 37 25
How to prepare for a visit
In order to avoid identity theft online, we advice you to use DossierFacile, a tool set up by the French government. It groups together your documents in the form of a link you can then send to landlords, which prevents you from having to print it all or to spread your personal information.
Applications consist of:
- ID document (residence permit, passport)
- monthly resources (payslips, grants...)
- A guarantor
Guarantors can be difficult to find as a foreign student, especially considering some agencies only allow for French guarantors. Campus France made a video on the Visale dispositive, which can act as your guarantor if you are eligible. See below:
Livin France Brest (website offering accommodation to international students specifically, with no guarantor needed. Use the code Winter2023 for 10% off your reservation)
Companies offering guarantor services (fees apply)
- Studapart: their partnership with Allianz offers advantages on home insurance
- Cautioneo
- GarantMe
- Luko
If you've found accommodation, you now need to insure it.
- WHY?
It is mandatory. Regardless of your age and current living situation, if you are renting a place, you have to insure it. It will protect you against damages caused to your flat (water leak, tree fall, wall crumbling, fire, etc.).
- HOW?
By paying for insurance with an insurance company. There are many of them, some online, others with agencies in Brest. The fees you will be paying will depend on the flat and what it offers (garage, furbished or not, balcony, old or new...).
- WHICH INSURANCE COMPANY?
It is up to you. We advise you to ask for quotes and compare prices. But be aware that your insurance needs to be set up for the day you enter the flat.
Some examples: Acheel, AXA, GMF, MAAF, MAE, Maif…
It might be easier to choose a company that has offices in Brest, as communication will be easier in person rather than on the phone/by email.