Moving to a new city for your studies is a major milestone in itself. So when you want to move in with your partner, finding the student housing for couples to live in can be even trickier.
Between cramped studio apartments, high rents, and strict application requirements, student couples often find themselves with very few options. Coliving for couples offers a practical alternative: living together in a fully furnished home while enjoying shared common spaces with other housemates.
Coliving, studio apartments, or flatsharing: Which option is right for couples?
Renting a studio apartment as a couple
It’s the natural choice for couples looking for total independence without having to share their daily lives with housemates.
However, it does come with a few drawbacks:
- Living space. Studio flats are often small and expensive, especially in major student cities like Paris, Lyon, or Bordeaux. With such limited square footage, living on top of each other can lead to extra tension and a loss of personal space.
- Financial drawbacks. You have to handle internet, gas, electricity, home insurance, utility bills, and furnishings entirely on your own. On top of being a significant added expense (even when split two ways), setting up all these utility accounts when you arrive is a real administrative headache you’d probably rather avoid!
- Furnishings and appliances. Yes, yet another expense! Even when rented furnished, a studio apartment often requires you to buy small appliances (coffee maker, microwave, food processor, etc.) or kitchenware right after moving in.
Traditional flatsharing as a couple
If studios aren’t for you, there’s a more affordable alternative – provided you enjoy communal living: joining a flatshare.
This option lets you access a larger property for a reasonable rent. However, moving in as a couple can be tricky to arrange for several reasons:
- Reluctant landlords and housemates. Many landlords and current flatmates refuse to let couples move into a single bedroom. They may worry that the couple will dominate the shared living spaces, disrupt the group dynamic, or create an awkward atmosphere.
- Splitting utility bills. Dividing water and electricity bills fairly between single housemates and a couple is a common source of daily friction. Since you occupy one bedroom, should you pay one share or two? It’s a hassle you can easily do without.
- Joint lease agreements. In traditional flatshares, leases almost always include a joint liability clause (clause de solidarité). This makes you financially responsible for the other roommates’ rent if they fail to pay. It also means that if you decide to leave, the remaining housemates have to cover your double share.
All of these factors can easily put couples off traditional flatsharing. But luckily, there is another solution.
Coliving as a couple
If studios and flatshares still don’t feel like the right fit, we’ve found the alternative that just might win you over: coliving.
A flexible, turn-key housing option, coliving allows couples to thrive by combining the best of an independent apartment with the perks of a shared home. It’s the ideal middle ground between a private bedroom, a flatshare, and a furnished apartment. As a couple, you enjoy your own private space alongside a fully equipped property and hassle-free services:
- Tailored for two. In coliving, there’s no need to negotiate. Approved by property managers from day one, many specialized providers offer options specifically designed for couples.
- Spaces sized for couple living. Bedrooms that welcome couples come equipped with double beds, adequate storage, and common areas spacious enough that you won’t feel crammed in with other residents.
- A budget under control. Rent includes a set provision for all utilities (water, electricity, heating) as well as bundled services (high-speed Wi-Fi, home insurance, support). You don’t have to manage any subscriptions—meaning zero administrative headaches.
Coliving for couples with Colivys: The ideal solution for your housing search
Why choose Colivys for your life together?
Choosing Colivys for your student housing as a couple means enjoying a secure environment with end-to-end professional management:
- Ready-to-live homes in major cities. Our apartments are thoughtfully furnished, decorated, and fully equipped (kitchenware, household appliances, bedding). You won’t need to buy furniture or handle heavy logistics when moving in.
- Full management of utilities and contracts. Colivys handles provider subscriptions directly. Water, electricity, gas, high-speed Wi-Fi (included as a fixed provision), and home insurance are all included. You avoid the tedious process of setting up utility accounts upon arrival.
- Dedicated and responsive support. If a technical issue pops up in the apartment or you have an administrative question, you benefit from dedicated points of contact and centralized management. Our team is also on hand to answer all your questions from the moment you sign your contract.
- Flexibility tailored to student life. To match your lifestyle, Colivys leases are designed to fit your academic calendar – whether you are staying for a single semester, a full academic year, or the duration of an internship.
The Colivys DUO Option: A major perk for couples
To allow two people to share the same bedroom with complete peace of mind, Colivys created the DUO Option. This formula properly structures living as a couple from both a financial and legal standpoint.
Here is what this option includes in practice:
- An advantageous pricing model. Instead of charging you double the rent, Colivys applies a fixed 35% surcharge on the bedroom’s base rent. The total cost is then split two ways, making it far more economical than two separate accommodations.
- A legal lease in both names. Both partners are listed on the lease agreement and recognized as official tenants. This allows you to obtain individual proof-of-rent certificates (attestations de loyer), which are essential for housing aid (CAF) applications, opening local bank accounts, or applying for residency permits.
- Strictly vetted bedrooms. The DUO Option isn’t available for every room. Our team selects spacious apartments and bedrooms equipped with a double bed (at least 140×190 cm), doubled storage space (wardrobes, closets), an adequate workspace, and access to at least two bathrooms in the property.
- Full access to included services. Home insurance automatically covers both occupants. Each person enjoys unlimited access to all amenities and shared spaces in the home, on equal footing with the other housemates.
Student housing for couple: How much does a room in coliving really cost?
An "all-inclusive" rent with the DUO Option
As mentioned above, at Colivys, we do everything to make couples feel welcome. That’s why we offer a “DUO” option: a fixed 35% surcharge is applied to the bedroom’s standard reference rent.
Here is an example budget breakdown:
|
Monthly bedroom rent |
DUO Option surcharge (+35%) | Total rent for the couple |
Actual cost per person |
|
€650 |
€227,50 | €877,50 |
€438,75 |
With an estimated total rent of €877.50 for a coliving bedroom as a couple, the cost per person comes out to less than €450. Finding an accommodation at that price point in a major metropolitan area is nearly impossible. Unless you choose coliving.
This monthly rate includes:
- The rental of your private furnished bedroom and full access to shared common areas
- A provision covering energy consumption: water, electricity, and gas
- Home insurance, included directly in your plan
- Bundled services such as high-speed Wi-Fi, administrative and technical maintenance (if an issue arises, our team is there to fix it), and even a welcome food pack upon arrival
Keep in mind: when booking, you will need to select the service package tailored to your needs. There’s only one to choose for the both of you. While this carries a fee, it ensures you have a dedicated team supporting you even before you arrive. Finally, you will need to pay the security deposit, which will be fully refunded at the end of your stay.
Living as a couple and housing aids
By choosing a Colivys home, you and your partner may be eligible for French housing benefits (APL). Issued by the Family Allowance Fund (CAF), these subsidies significantly reduce your housing expenses. However, the calculation rules change when you live together: the CAF applies its “household” rate scale. As soon as two people live as a couple in the same room, the CAF considers the home to be occupied by a single household, evaluating the combined income of both partners.
What should you expect financially? The housing aid amount awarded to a couple is generally lower than the combined total of two separate individual APL grants, since both partners share the same living space. This is a key factor to keep in mind when planning your budget.
How do you apply? As soon as your lease is finalized, request your completed proof-of-rent certificate (attestation de loyer) from Colivys. You must then submit a single application under both your names on the CAF website, declaring your status as a couple.
Coliving application: What documents do you need to move in as a couple?
Essential personal proof for each occupant
Booking student accommodation as a couple requires a bit of administrative preparation. Even though you will be sharing the same bedroom, regulations require property managers to verify the identity and status of every person living in the apartment. Preparing a complete application in advance will help you get your booking approved much faster.
Each partner must assemble their own file containing the following required documents:
- A valid official piece of ID: National identity card, passport, or residence permit (titre de séjour, front and back)
- Proof of student status: Student card for the current academic year, certificate of enrollment (certificat de scolarité), university acceptance letter, or internship agreement (convention de stage)
- Proof of current address: Certificate of accommodation (attestation d’hébergement accompanied by the host’s ID), recent rent receipt, or a utility bill in your name
Accepted financial guarantees
To finalize your lease agreement, you must present solid financial guarantees covering the total rent for the bedroom. Even though guarantees are not mandatory at Colivys, several options are available to you:
- A personal guarantor (parents or a relative). If your guarantors are tax residents in France, they must provide their ID, their last 3 pay slips, their most recent tax notice, and proof of address.
- Alternative guarantees. If you do not have a guarantor residing in France and would still like to provide financial backing, you can use partner guarantor services like Garantme or SmartGarant. You will simply need to submit your eligibility certificate to validate your file.
So, what are you waiting for to choose coliving for the upcoming academic year? Our homes are ready for you!
