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The Visale guarantee can help you secure housing in France. But how do you request it? Here’s everything you need to know to take advantage of this program.
What is the Visale guarantee?
The Visale guarantee is a free rental deposit scheme offered by Action Logement, designed to facilitate access to housing for tenants by guaranteeing rent and utility payments in case of non-payment. It offers benefits for both the tenant and the landlord.
It helps secure landlords and property owners against unpaid rent and possible rental damages while making it easier for tenants in precarious situations to access housing. It covers unpaid rent for a specified period and takes care of certain damages. Granted under certain conditions, the Visale guarantee is primarily intended for so-called precarious profiles, such as recently employed individuals, students, and young job seekers.
To verify that you are indeed eligible for the Visale guarantee, you must meet the following conditions:
- Be between 18 and 30 years old
- Be an employee with a permanent contract, fixed-term contract, temporary work, self-employed, apprenticeship or professionalization contract, civic service, or job seeker
- Be a student
- The amount of your rent should not exceed 50% of your income
- The housing for which you apply must be your primary residence, located in mainland France or in the French overseas territories
- The lease must be signed within 3 months of obtaining the Visale Visa
If you are an over 30-years-old employee, you can claim this guarantee if you have recently been hired, are a temporary worker, or have obtained a job transfer.
How to request the Visale guarantee?
Visale is a guarantee issued by the Action Logement group, which works to facilitate access to housing for employees, particularly those in the private sector. The process to apply for the Visale guarantee is entirely digital and very simple. Just follow these steps to maximize your chances of obtaining it:
1. Check your eligibility
Before starting the process, check if you meet the eligibility criteria mentioned earlier (age, employment situation, rent amount, type of housing, etc.). If so, gather all the necessary supporting documents, such as:
- A copy of your ID: identity card, passport, or residence permit
- One or more proof of income documents to attest to your financial resources: pay slips, employment contract, tax notice
- If you are a student: a certificate of enrollment or scholarship attestation
- If you are an intern, in civic service, or on an apprenticeship: a copy of your professionalization or apprenticeship contract, internship agreement, a copy of your internship allowance attestation, or your civic service contract.
2. Create an account on the Visale website
Visit the official Visale website (www.visale.fr) to create an account with your personal information. Once registered, you can access your tenant area.
3. Complete the online application form
In your tenant area, complete the Visale guarantee application form. Don’t forget to include accurate information about the housing and the required supporting documents.
4. Wait for Visale’s answer
After submitting your application, you will need to wait a few days. The waiting period is often dreaded, but it usually takes between 2 and 5 business days to get a response. Quite fast. If your application is accepted, you will receive a “Visa Visale” by email.
5. Present the Visa Visale to your landlord
Send an email with your Visa Visale to your future landlord to prove your eligibility. This document will reassure them about your ability to pay the rent on time and fulfill your rental obligations.
6. Sign the guarantee contract
Once the lease is signed, you will need to return to the Visale website to validate the online guarantee contract. The future landlord must also sign it electronically. You will then be insured, but be careful: you have only 3 months to sign the lease after obtaining your Visa Visale!
Tips for maximizing your chances of obtaining the Visale guarantee
- Check your eligibility
As we mentioned earlier, it’s essential to make sure you meet the eligibility criteria for the Visale guarantee. It would be unproductive to apply for the guarantee if you don’t meet these conditions, as this would result in a refusal and a waste of time for you.
- Gather a complete application
Carefully prepare the required documents for your application, including identity documents, proof of income, and, if necessary, specific documents for your situation (student, intern, etc.). Make sure they are up to date.
- Choose suitable housing
Select housing with rent that does not exceed 50% of your income. This proportion is a crucial criterion for obtaining the Visale guarantee. Also, make sure the housing accepts the Visale guarantee, as not all housing and accommodations accept it.
- Fill out the application form correctly
When applying online, ensure you fill out the form with accurate and precise information. An incomplete or incorrect application can result in a refusal.
- Stay organized
Keep a copy of all documents related to your Visale guarantee application and be prepared to provide additional information if necessary. You never know what might be requested.
What happens in case of non-payment?
The Visale guarantee is there to protect the landlord and tenant from the latter’s non-payment. You couldn’t pay your last month’s rent and are facing financial difficulties? Don’t let silence set in.
- Contact the landlord
Inform them quickly about the situation and explain the reasons for your non-payment. Open and honest communication can help resolve the problem and find solutions.
- Contact Action Logement
As a beneficiary of the Visale guarantee, it is essential to inform Action Logement of your situation. They can support and advise you on the steps to take.
- Ask for a repayment plan to your landlord
After informing both parties, it is essential that you offer your landlord a solution. Suggest a repayment schedule, or another solution. This can prevent conflicts and show your goodwill.
In case of non-payment, the landlord must send a reminder to the tenant via a simple letter within 15 days after the non-payment is detected. If they choose to notify the tenant through their personal space, a 30-day period is granted. The landlord must report the situation to Visale. Visale will then take charge of recovering the unpaid amounts from the tenant. If these persist, Visale will step in to pay the amounts due to the landlord.
It is important to note that if the landlord has received repayments from their tenant, they must notify Action Logement. If the latter has made a reimbursement via Visale, the landlord must return this amount to Action Logement.
What other assistance can I apply for?
The Visale guarantee is not restrictive. However, it is not applicable to all types of accommodation and real estate rentals. Other solutions have been put in place to lighten the financial burden related to housing. Whether you are in a traditional rental, a shared apartment, or coliving, you can benefit from assistance such as:
- APL (Personalized Housing Assistance)
This financial aid is intended for tenants who rent a government-subsidized housing (housing where the owner has signed an agreement with the State or a public organization such as the National Housing Agency). It is granted by the CAF (Family Allowance Fund) based on household resources, family composition, and the amount of rent. As the majority of housing units in France are government-subsidized, APL can be received by tenants in coliving situations, as well as shared apartments. The beneficiary receives it every month. However, if the accommodation is not government-subsidized, you can benefit from ALS (Social Housing Allowance) aid.
To find out if you can benefit from it, don’t forget to do a simulation on the CAF account and consult our dedicated article.
- Loca-Pass Advance
An interest-free loan, it helps finance the security deposit required when moving into a new place. This loan is granted by Action Logement and is repayable over a maximum period of 25 months.
- Mobili-Jeune
Financial aid for young employees under 30 years old in alternating training (apprenticeship or professionalization), it aims to reduce the cost of rent and can be combined with APL. This aid only concerns young people working in a non-agricultural private sector company.
- Mobility Assistance
These aids are designed to cover the costs associated with moving and settling into a new home for private-sector employees who need to change their primary residence for professional reasons. Action Logement, for example, offers the Mobili-Pass assistance, which covers certain expenses related to geographical mobility.
Which guarantee in coliving?
If you have been able to research the subject, coliving is a new shared housing trend that is increasingly attracting people, especially young professionals and students. It offers advantages such as cost reduction, all-inclusive formulas, and a friendly atmosphere among roommates. However, to join a coliving housing arrangement, landlords and property owners often require financial guarantees to secure the rental. At Colivys, the Visale guarantee is not accepted, as we are not the owners of mostly of our goods. but there are other options to obtain a guarantee suited to the situation.
Among the alternatives to the Visale guarantee, you may have already heard of companies specializing in rental guarantees for tenants looking for coliving accommodation. These companies act as guarantors for the tenant in case of rent payment defaults or damage to the property. By choosing one of these guarantees, tenants facilitate their access to coliving and reassure landlords about their solvency. Smart Garant and GarantMe are two companies offering these services.
They assess the solvency of applicants based on their previously submitted files and issue a guarantee certificate to be presented when signing the lease. These guarantees are paid for by the tenants, in the form of a monthly or annual contribution. Don’t worry, their cost is offset by the savings you will make thanks to coliving. This service is free for property owners. An insurance guarantees them a drastic reduction in the risk of unpaid rent.
