Updated February 02, 2026
At Colivys, we provide each of our tenants with an individual sublease agreement. But did you know that housing benefits, such as the APL, may be available (subject to conditions) to help cover part of your rent? If you’re looking to lower your living expenses, the Aide Personnalisée au Logement (APL) could save you hundreds of euros a year depending on your situation. But how does the APL work in a flatshare? What are the requirements? How much can you expect to receive?
In this comprehensive 2026 guide, you will discover:
- Eligibility criteria for APL in a flatshare
- How your benefit is calculated based on your lease type (joint or individual)
- A step-by-step guide to your CAF application
- How it works for couples
What Housing Benefits does the CAF offer for flatsharing?
Whether you are a tenant, a flatmate, or a subtenant, you are entitled to various housing benefits from the Caisse d’Allocations Familiales (CAF). Depending on your situation, you may be eligible for the Aide Personnalisée au Logement (APL), the Allocation de Logement Social (ALS), or the Allocation de Logement Familiale (ALF).
- APL is a personalized housing benefit. In other words, the amount granted varies based on the applicant’s personal circumstances. It depends on the rent paid, your income, and your household composition.
- ALS is a social housing allowance for non-subsidized housing. This benefit is most often intended for students, childless households, or elderly individuals.
- Finally, ALF is a benefit reserved for families who do not qualify for APL or ALS. The amount takes into account the number of children, the rent, the location of the residence, and the household’s financial resources.
Which benefit can you receive?
Wondering which of these benefits you’ll get? Good news: you don’t have to choose!
The CAF automatically assigns the most advantageous benefit based on your profile. In the vast majority of flatsharing cases (around 85%), the APL is the one awarded, as most properties are “conventionnés” (government-regulated). Additionally, if you are currently employed, you might also be eligible for the “Prime d’Activité” (Activity bonus) while living in a flatshare – a top-up benefit designed for workers with modest incomes.
If you’re interested in one of our rooms, you can head over to the CAF website right now to run a simulation. This will give you an estimate of which benefits you qualify for and the monthly amount you could receive.
How to receive CAF Housing Benefits in a flatshare?
Receiving housing assistance (APL, ALS, ALF) while living in a flatshare is definitely possible. However, to qualify, you must meet the following requirements:
- The apartment must be your main place of residence.
- You must hold a rental or flatsharing agreement with your name explicitly listed on the lease.
- You cannot be related to the owner (parent, child, or grandparent) or be in a domestic partnership with them.
- Your personal resources must be below the annual ceilings defined by the CAF.
Before starting your application, ensure that your accommodation meets all the eligibility criteria listed above.
Applying for APL: A step-by-step guide
The APL application is done entirely online via the CAF website. Here is the process:
Step 1: Check your eligibility (2 min)
Before you start, make sure that:
- Your name is on the lease.
- The living space is at least 9m²: Your private bedroom must meet this minimum size requirement to be eligible.
- It is your primary residence.
Step 2: Create your CAF account (5 min)
Go to the official website: caf.fr
- Click on “S’inscrire” (Sign up)
- Have your Social Security number ready, needy to identify yourself.
- Create your personal account and follow the prompts to set up your access.
Already a member? Simply click “Se connecter” (Log in) to access your existing account.
Step 3: Gather your documents (10 min)
Here is the full list of required documents:
- Valid ID – National ID card or Passport
- Personal Bank Details (RIB)
- Shared Accommodation Lease Agreement – whether it is an individual or a joint lease
- Rent certificate or Recent rent receipt
- N-2 Tax Notice -based on your 2024 income (for a 2026 application)
- The last 3 months’ payslips
If you are applying as a couple:
- Family record book or PACS certificate
- Partner’s proof of income
Step 4: Fill out the online form (15 min)
To fill out the online form:
- Log in to your CAF account to access your personal dashboard
- Click on “Faire une demande de prestation” (Apply for a benefit)
- Select “Demande d’aide au logement” (Housing assistance application)
- Check the box “Je vis en colocation” (I live in a flatshare)
- Complete all sections and make sure every field is filled out accurately
Next, upload your documents and submit your application.
You will receive a case number (numéro de dossier) by email. Make sure to save it!
At Colivys, we support our tenants with their CAF administrative procedures!
At Colivys, we know that dealing with the CAF can be complicated, especially when it comes to subleasing. That’s why we’ve created a specific guide tailored just for our tenants.
What you’ll find in our Colivys guide:
- The exact boxes to check on the CAF application form
- Crucial point: DO NOT check “flatshare” (colocation) – instead, select “sublease” (sous-location).
How is APL calculated for a flatshare?
The APL is calculated based on the applicant’s resources. The CAF looks at your net taxable income earned over the last twelve months.
Note: Not all sources of income are included in the APL calculation. You do not need to declare the following, as they do not affect your APL eligibility:
- Prime d’activité (Activity bonus)
- RSA (Active Solidarity Income)
- AAH (Disabled Adult Allowance)
- Family allowances
Joint lease vs individual lease: What’s the difference?
When flatsharing, your APL calculation depends entirely on the type of lease agreement you signed.
The CAF uses two different methods depending on the contract:
With a single joint lease (Bail collectif)
If you and all your flatmates signed a single, shared contract, the CAF calculates the total APL for the entire household based on a single rent receipt. They divide the total rent by the number of occupants before applying individual income criteria.
Your landlord might also include a solidarity clause (clause de solidarité). This means that if one flatmate leaves, the remaining tenants are responsible for covering the full rent.
With an individual lease (Bail individuel) - This is the option we use at Colivys
If you and your “colivers” signed individual contracts for your coliving apartment, the CAF follows the standard rental process. This is the model we have chosen at Colivys. In this case, the CAF considers only your personal situation and resources.
💡 At Colivys, all our properties are approved and eligible for APL. By providing individual leases, we help you maximize your housing benefit entitlements.
To find out the exact amount of APL you could receive, we recommend visiting the CAF website to run a simulation. Please note that the result is provided for informational purposes only and is subject to change.
Why do you receive less APL in a flatshare?
People living in a flatshare may receive a lower APL amount compared to those living alone. This difference is primarily due to the way the benefit is calculated.
The APL calculation is based on:
- Capped rent amounts (rent ceilings)
- A flat-rate service charge (forfait de charges)
- Your income and household composition
Choosing a flatshare allows you to share part of the living costs, thereby reducing your personal expenses. As a result, the housing benefit is lower for flatmates because the amount used to calculate the aid for each resident is equal to 75% of the ceiling for a single tenant.
At Colivys, we have opted for individual leases. This means each occupant receives their full share of APL based on their own specific “rent.”
What are the income brackets for eligibility?
The Aide Personnalisée au Logement (APL) is indexed annually to keep up with inflation and the cost of living. Every year on October 1st, the CAF reviews and updates these benefit rates (for 2026, the current rates are based on the October 1st, 2025 indices).
The eligibility brackets depend on two main factors:
- The geographic zone where your apartment or house is located
- Your family situation (single, couple, with or without children)
How do I know which benefits I can claim for a room at Colivys?
Looking to rent a room with Colivys and wondering which CAF benefits you can claim?
To find out the exact amount you could receive, go directly to the Caisse des Allocations Familiales (CAF) website. There, you can run various simulations based on your personal situation to see if you are eligible for APL, ALS, or ALF. This simulation will also help you confirm that your monthly rent budget aligns with the financial assistance provided by the CAF.
At Colivys, the contracts offered to our tenants are sublease agreements with individual leases. We are well aware that administrative red tape in France can be overwhelming and discouraging for many. Errors can easily happen, which is why we offer our future tenants administrative support to make their lives easier and save them valuable time.
Our quick FAQ: APL and CAF benefits in a flatshare
To get the APL, your income must be lower than the current minimum wage (SMIC), which is €1,823,03 monthly in 2025. We still recommend you to simulate beforehand on the CAF website.
If you are declaring yourselves as a couple, you can also claim APL for the whole household. However, the method of calculation will be different, since the incomes of both partners will be taken into account. At Colivys, we establish a unique contract for the couple, in the name of one of the two persons. We mention the “duo option” on the lease contract.
Single people, couples, with or without children, employees, job seekers or even students can benefit from APL assistance. We recommend you to do a digital simulation of your rights to APL, ALS and ALF on the CAF website.
Since “coliving” and “co-renting” are similar, co-tenants can also benefit from APL, in the same way as tenants. However, the calculation method is not the same.
In a shared apartment or in a rental one”, the APL is only paid one month after the date of your application. The aid received is retroactive.
Generally, APL are paid on the 5th of each month (excluding weekends and holidays) by bank transfer, either to the tenant/flatmate/subtenant or directly to the owner.
Yes, absolutely! In fact, the APL is specifically designed with students in mind. However, you must meet a few requirements, including:
- Being officially enrolled in an educational institution
- Having a lease agreement in your own name
- Using the accommodation as your primary residence
Feel free to visit the CAF website to run a simulation based on your profile.
Good to know: Occasional financial support from your parents is not counted as income in the calculation.
Yes, within a maximum of 3 months!
Here is how to report the change:
- Log in to caf.fr and select “Déclarer un changement” (Report a change)
- Enter your new income details
It is normal for your APL to decrease once you start working, but you may become eligible for the “Prime d’activité” (Activity bonus), which can be up to €150/month.
Warning: If you fail to report this change, you risk having to pay back any overpayments (trop-perçu).
No. To qualify for APL, your name must appear on the rental agreement, whether it is an individual or a joint lease. Unreported subletting – even with a verbal agreement from the landlord – does not grant any rights to housing benefits.
