High school diploma in hand, summer holidays on the horizon, and the excitement of university life kicking in! A new city, new faces, total freedom. But once that honeymoon phase fades, reality hits: you need to find a place to live for September.
Apartment hunting can turn into a nightmare fast -between disappointing viewings and tight budgets for overpriced flats. Finding the right university housing takes time and energy, two things you’d rather spend unwinding after graduating.
Luckily, smart alternatives exist to save you from a complete meltdown. And that’s exactly what we’re diving into in this article!
In this article
University housing headache: The reality of today's real estate market
Between shortages and sky-high rents: An uphill battle
Every year, finding university housing becomes a race against the clock. As soon as Parcoursup results drop, future students rush headfirst into house-hunting mode. Between packing up and leaving the family nest, the rental market gets insanely competitive as summer approaches. The result? Major university cities like Paris, Lyon, Lille, or Bordeaux face a massive shortage of small apartments tailored to student budgets. According to data from the LocService observatory, studios and one-bedroom flats account for over half of all student searches, completely overwhelming the market.
The few available places vanish in hours. In regional cities, the average studio rent hovers around €550, while easily soaring past €850 in the Paris region. Prices for remaining properties skyrocket, quickly blowing past student and family budgets. You’re then left with a tough choice: live miles away from campus or compromise on your living conditions.
Solo studio vs. traditional flatshare: Are they losing their appeal?
Let’s be honest: renting a solo studio gives you total independence. It sounds amazing on paper (after living with your family for 18 years, you’ve earned your own space, right?), but the reality can be tough. Moving to a brand-new city means that solitude can quickly turn into loneliness. On top of that, you have to manage every single bill yourself: internet, electricity, and home insurance. The expenses pile up fast, and the mental load becomes overwhelming.
If living alone feels a bit daunting, what about a traditional flatshare? While it seems more social and budget-friendly, it brings its own share of administrative nightmares. You’ll need a rock-solid application with multiple guarantors, agree on room splits, and handle late payments from roommates. Worse yet, most leases include a joint liability clause (clause de solidarité): if a roommate moves out or stops paying rent, everyone else has to cover the difference. That’s a major red flag for parents acting as guarantors. Thankfully, a newer, more flexible model has emerged to give you the hassle-free experience you actually need.
Coliving: A fresh way to experience student life
The perfect blend of community and privacy
Want to build a social circle right from day one in September, but still need peace and quiet to study for exams? Coliving solves that exact dilemma. By offering a sweet spot between social life and independence, you get your own fully furnished private bedroom—a cozy retreat where you can unwind, recharge, and work in peace.
Step outside your room, and you immediately enter vibrant shared spaces: a spacious living room to hang out after classes, a fully equipped kitchen for group meals, and sometimes even coworking areas, a garden, or an on-site gym. For students moving across France or international students arriving for the first time, it’s a total game-changer! You build a ready-made crew of friends right away without ever feeling the isolation of traditional rentals. And honestly, we love that!
An all-inclusive budget to avoid surprises
When it comes to coliving, if there’s one thing that makes life easier, it’s the budget! Managing student finances is often a high-wire balancing act. Rent, furniture, electricity, Wi-Fi, insurance: the bills stack up and bring unwanted surprises at the end of the month. Coliving eliminates that stress entirely with its all-inclusive formula. Here’s how it works:
- A single monthly bill: You pay one fixed amount each month that covers rent and utilities.
- Zero paperwork: Water, electricity, heating, and high-speed Wi-Fi are already set up and active before you arrive.
Do the math: this turn-key solution works out significantly cheaper than renting a traditional studio or flat. You save on utility setup fees and enjoy a top-tier home with total cost control. It’s a bulletproof argument to reassure your parents, isn’t it?
Colivys: Your best ally for the september intake
Ultra-simplified application procedures
Tick-tock, tick-tock! With September right around the corner, time flies fast. You don’t have hours to waste on endless real estate bureaucracy. Colivys gets it, which is why we offer a 100% digitalized process. You can take virtual tours of the apartments, submit your application, and sign your lease directly online -right from your couch.
This hassle-free process is a lifesaver for French students, and even more crucial for international students. Moving to a new country is tough, especially when navigating unfamiliar administrative and financial hurdles. Colivys streamlines every step with a responsive, multilingual support team experienced in assisting students from all over the globe.
Fully furnished and equipped flats: Unpack your bags
With coliving, buying furniture, wrestling with flat-pack assembly, or renting a moving van is a thing of the past. Forget that exhausting hassle. At Colivys, our spaces are fully furnished, stylishly decorated, and designed to make daily life seamless for young students like you.
From day one, you’ll have a comfortable double bed, a functional workspace in your room, and optimized storage. In the shared areas, the kitchen comes fully stocked with cookware, appliances, and utensils: everything you need to whip up great meals. All you have to do is unpack your bags, connect your laptop to the Wi-Fi, and kick off your university year in the best possible way.
Choosing coliving with Colivys means choosing a simple, cost-effective, and welcoming living experience.
So, get clicking! The room of your dreams is waiting for you!
