Moving to Paris from the US: What to Know Before Renting an Apartment

If you’ve rented in New York, you probably know the routine: gather your pay stubs, calculate whether you meet the landlord’s income requirement, and get your paperwork ready before someone else takes the apartment.

That preparation will help in Paris, too. But some of your strongest credentials in New York—a great credit score, a well-paid U.S. job, years of rental history—may need a little more explanation here.

The apartments themselves come with a different vocabulary. A two-room apartment usually has one bedroom. The first floor is one flight above street level. And a furnished rental can be your home for several years, rather than a temporary place to stay.

Before you start looking for an apartment for rent in Paris, here’s what to understand about the homes, the application process, and the agreement you’ll be signing.

Paris Apartments vs. New York Apartments: Housing Differences to Expect

If you’re moving from New York to Paris, small kitchens and walk-up buildings probably won’t surprise you. The bigger adjustments are often less obvious: an apartment with a washing machine but no dryer, a renovated bedroom without air conditioning, or a bathroom that doesn’t include a toilet.

Both cities have everything from older walk-ups to modern luxury residences. Still, these are the differences worth understanding before you choose your Paris apartment.

Air Conditioning Is Less Common in Paris—Even in Expensive Apartments

In New York, cooling might come from central air, through-wall units, or a window air conditioner you install for the summer. Landlords are not generally required to provide AC, but New Yorkers are accustomed to having some way to cool their apartment.

In Paris, air conditioning is less common, particularly in older buildings. Installing a permanent system can involve practical constraints, building approvals, and planning permission when the exterior is affected. Even a renovated or high-end apartment may have no built-in air conditioning.

If AC matters to you, make it a search requirement from the beginning. Ask whether it serves every bedroom or only the living room, and whether the equipment is a permanent system or a portable unit.

You May Get Your Own Washing Machine—but No Separate Dryer

For a New Yorker used to carrying laundry downstairs or to a laundromat, having a washing machine inside a Paris apartment can be a welcome improvement. In-unit laundry is a sought-after amenity in New York, rather than something every apartment provides.

Many furnished rentals in Paris include a washing machine, usually installed in the kitchen or bathroom. A separate dryer is less common, particularly where space is limited. You may find a combination washer-dryer or a folding drying rack instead.

Check the appliance description carefully:

• Lave-linge: washing machine.
• Lave-linge séchant: combination washer-dryer.
• Sèche-linge: separate dryer.

An Unfurnished Apartment May Not Include the Kitchen Appliances You Expect

In New York, a conventional long-term apartment search generally centers on unfurnished rentals. In Paris, furnished apartments are a mainstream option for long-term living, and you may find more furnished than unfurnished listings during your search, particularly for smaller apartments. Furnished does not automatically mean a vacation rental or a short stay.

There’s another difference worth knowing: what comes with the kitchen.

In a typical New York rental, you generally expect the refrigerator and stove to stay, even when the apartment is unfurnished.

In Paris, location vide—an unfurnished rental—does not guarantee the same appliance package. Some apartments have fully fitted kitchens; others provide much less. Ask exactly which appliances are included before committing.

By comparison, a furnished rental used as your main residence must meet a legally defined minimum equipment list. This includes a cooktop, an oven or microwave, a refrigerator with a freezer or suitable freezing compartment, dishes, and cooking utensils. A dishwasher is not mandatory.

For Americans moving overseas, choosing a furnished apartment for rent in Paris can save the expense of shipping furniture and buying appliances—but it is still worth checking the inventory before you sign.

Heating and Hot Water: Check the System and Who Pays

As in New York, Paris apartments can have building-wide heating or individual systems serving a single apartment. The important questions are how much control you have and how the costs are billed.

Collective heating is not automatically cheaper, and individual heating is not automatically expensive. The building’s insulation and the efficiency of the equipment make a substantial difference.

Confirm which costs are included in the advertised charges. “Charges included” does not mean all utilities are included. Rental charges may cover services such as common-area cleaning, elevator operation, water, and collective heating where provided. Your apartment’s electricity, individual gas supply, and internet may remain separate.

A French “Two-Room Apartment” Usually Means One Bedroom

French listings often count the main living rooms and bedrooms together. Kitchens, bathrooms, and hallways generally don’t count toward that total.

Always check the floor plan. A separate dining room can also count as a main room, so a three-room apartment does not automatically guarantee two bedrooms.

In France, floor areas are listed in square meters:

• 40 m²: approximately 431 square feet.
• 60 m²: approximately 646 square feet.
• 80 m²: approximately 861 square feet.
• 100 m²: approximately 1,076 square feet.

Look beyond the number. A well-designed 60 m² apartment with usable storage may work better than a larger one with long hallways or bedrooms accessible only through another room.

Check the Elevator—and the Floor Number

Walk-ups exist in both cities, but an older Paris building can present another surprise: having an elevator does not necessarily mean step-free access.

The elevator may be fitted into a narrow stairwell, accommodate only a few people, or stop between floors. It may be too small for you and your large suitcases to ride together, and you may still need to climb a few steps before or after using it.

Floor numbers differ, too:

If you have a stroller, mobility needs, or large luggage, ask for a video showing the route from the sidewalk to the apartment door. An elevator icon on a listing cannot tell you whether that route is step-free.

A Paris Gardien Is Different From a New York Doorman or Super

If you’re leaving a full-service New York building, clarify what support your Paris building actually offers.

A Paris gardien or gardienne may look after common areas, handle day-to-day building tasks, and sometimes receive deliveries. The role can combine some caretaking and resident-support duties, depending on the building.

Having a gardien does not automatically mean a staffed entrance around the clock, guaranteed package reception, or repairs inside your apartment. Gardiens have defined working arrangements, breaks, and time off; living in the building does not mean they are available 24/7.

Before moving in, ask about package reception, working hours, and whom to contact for an apartment repair. That contact may be your landlord or property manager rather than the gardien.

Rental Applications in Paris: Your Dossier Matters More Than Your Credit Score

In New York, credit checks are a familiar part of apartment hunting. Paris does not use a standard U.S.-style consumer credit score as its central rental screening tool.

Instead, landlords review your rental application file, or dossier locatif: documents showing who you are, your employment situation, how you earn your income, and your ability to pay the rent.

A high FICO score won’t carry the same weight in Paris. What matters more is presenting reliable, well-documented income and any financial guarantees required for the property.

New York’s 40x Rule vs. Paris’s Three-Times-the-Rent Guideline

Many New York landlords look for annual gross income of roughly 40 times the monthly rent. This is a common screening practice, rather than a universal legal requirement.

In Paris, landlords and agencies often look for monthly income of at least three times the rent. This is also a selection guideline, not a legal minimum.

Someone with an established U.S. freelance business may find their application more straightforward in New York than in Paris. Many French landlords are more comfortable with applicants who have a permanent employment contract—a CDI—and have completed their probation period.

That does not mean self-employed applicants cannot rent in Paris. It means preparing the right supporting documents and finding a landlord comfortable assessing them.

What Documents Should Americans Prepare to Rent an Apartment in Paris?

The documents depend on your situation. For a standard French residential rental application, prepare the relevant items below:

Before paying for translations, ask the agency what it needs. Agencies specializing in expat rentals may be able to review English-language documents and explain them to the landlord.

Can You Rent an Apartment in Paris With a U.S. Salary?

Yes, you can rent an apartment in Paris with U.S. income. Acceptance depends on the landlord’s requirements, and how clearly your application documents your financial situation.

A landlord accustomed to French applicants with permanent employment contracts and a French guarantor may find a U.S. application harder to assess. They may not recognize your employer, understand your tax documents, or know how to evaluate income paid in dollars. Even a strong salary may need more explanation than it would in New York.

Working with an agency specializing in expat rentals in Paris can help. These agencies are familiar with international employment arrangements and foreign income documents, and their landlords are often more accustomed to renting to tenants arriving from abroad.

At Paris Rental, we help you prepare your rental application and identify apartments whose landlords are open to international profiles. Approval is never automatic, but presenting the right documents to a landlord who understands your situation can make the search much more straightforward.

Do You Need a French Guarantor to Rent an Apartment in Paris?

Not every applicant needs a personal guarantor to be able to rent in Paris. The requirements depend on the lease, the landlord, and how the rental is secured.

Possible arrangements include:

• You use a service like Garantme. If you qualify and the landlord accepts it, a paid rental guarantee can take the place of a personal guarantor. It’s different from home insurance.
• Your company or embassy signs the lease. The organization is responsible for paying the rent, so the landlord reviews its financial situation rather than relying only on yours.
• Your employer agrees to act as your guarantor. Some landlords will accept a written guarantee from your company instead of one from a family member.
• Your employer gives you a housing allowance. An allowance that comfortably covers the rent can reassure the landlord, especially when it comes from an established company. They may still ask for a guarantor.
• You agree to pay rent in advance under a suitable Civil Code lease. Some landlords may accept this instead of asking for a guarantor. Make sure the lease clearly explains the payment terms and what happens to any prepaid rent if you leave early.

In practice, a guarantor based outside France can be harder to get accepted, so don’t assume a parent in New York will qualify. Check with the agency early.

Paris Lease Types: Why Your Reason for Moving Matters

In New York, you may be used to signing a one-year or two-year lease, or having a more flexible month-to-month tenancy.

In Paris, the type of lease depends largely on how you’ll use the apartment and who will sign the agreement. Are you making Paris your main home, renting a second residence, or moving into accommodation leased by your employer?

Main-Residence Leases

If Paris will be your main home and you’re renting in your own name, a main-residence lease will generally be the starting point.

These terms generally give tenants more flexibility than a fixed-term New York lease. Signing a one-year furnished main-residence lease in Paris does not mean you have to stay—or pay rent—for the entire year. You can leave earlier by giving the required notice.

For an unfurnished apartment in Paris, state in your notice that you’re claiming the reduced one-month period because the property is in a zone tendue, an area with high housing demand.

How to Give Notice Correctly

For these main-residence leases, you generally give notice through:

• Registered mail with acknowledgment of receipt (lettre recommandée avec accusé de réception).
• Hand delivery, with a signed receipt.
• A commissaire de justice, a French judicial officer.

A compliant electronic registered letter may also be possible, subject to the applicable conditions. An ordinary email or WhatsApp message is not valid formal notice.

If you use registered mail, the notice period starts when the landlord or agency receives it—not when you send it. Allow enough time for delivery, and keep proof of receipt.

Mobility Leases for Eligible Temporary Stays

A bail mobilité is a furnished lease lasting one to ten months, available for defined situations such as higher education, an internship, a professional transfer, or a temporary work assignment.

A standard mobility lease cannot be renewed automatically or renewed as another mobility lease with the same tenant. Its duration can be changed once by amendment, provided the total stay does not exceed ten months.

Civil Code Leases for Second Homes and Company Rentals

A bail Code civil can be appropriate for a genuine second home or when a company rents accommodation for an employee.

Its duration, deposit, and termination terms are largely contractual.

For any long-term apartment rental in Paris, confirm the lease category before comparing fees or paying a deposit.

Rent Payments, Deposits, and Agency Fees: What to Budget

“Charges Included” Does Not Mean Every Bill Is Included

Paris listings commonly show:

• HC — hors charges: rent excluding rental charges.
• CC — charges comprises: rent including the stated rental charges.

Those charges might cover building services, water, or collective heating. They do not automatically include your apartment’s electricity, gas, or internet. For a long-term rental in Paris, these bills are usually paid separately, unless the lease says otherwise.

Security Deposits Can Be Higher Than in New York

New York residential security deposits are generally capped at one month’s rent.

For standard French main-residence leases paid monthly, the maximum security deposits are:

• Unfurnished: one month’s rent excluding charges.
• Furnished: two months’ rent, excluding charges.
• Mobility lease: no security deposit.

For Civil Code leases, the deposit amount is agreed between the landlord and tenant. In practice, you’ll often see one month’s rent for an unfurnished apartment and two months for a furnished apartment. However, for certain luxury apartments, the owner may ask for a larger deposit.

Broker Fees Work Differently in the Two Cities

In New York City, rental broker fees have traditionally been quoted as one month’s rent or roughly 10–15% of the annual rent, usually as a one-time payment.

In Paris, agency fees for a main-residence rental are legally capped. In 2026, tenants pay up to €12.10 per m² for viewings, application preparation, and lease drafting combined, plus up to €3.03 per m² for the move-in inspection. Your share cannot exceed what the landlord pays for the same services.

However, if you’re renting a pied-à-terre or company accommodation under a Civil Code lease, the fees work differently. Those caps do not apply, and agencies set their own rates. You may be charged one month’s rent or a percentage of the annual rent, depending on the agency and the length of your stay.

Always ask for the total fee, including VAT, so you know exactly what to budget before signing.

Subletting in New York and Paris: Don’t Assume the Same Rules Apply

If you’re planning to split your time between Paris and the U.S., check the subletting rules before counting on rental income while you’re away.

Subletting Your New York Apartment While Staying in Paris

In qualifying New York buildings with four or more residential units, tenants generally have the right to request a sublet, and landlords cannot unreasonably withhold consent.

For rent-stabilized apartments, you must maintain the apartment as your primary residence and intend to return. Subletting is generally limited to two years within a four-year period. Moving to Paris permanently can therefore create a different situation from taking a temporary assignment abroad.

Subletting Your Paris Apartment While Traveling Back to the U.S.

You might rent a Paris apartment and wonder whether you can sublet it during trips back to the U.S. Don’t assume your lease allows it.

For a standard French main-residence lease, you need the landlord’s written permission to sublet, including approval of the rent you’ll charge. The sublet rent per square meter cannot exceed what you pay, and you must give the subtenant the landlord’s written authorization and a copy of your lease. Unauthorized subletting can put your tenancy at risk.

If you have a Paris pied-à-terre rented under a Civil Code lease, check the subletting clause carefully. These leases follow different rules and can prohibit subletting or require the landlord’s permission.

Airbnb Rules in New York and Paris

Permission for a conventional sublet does not automatically allow you to offer the apartment as a tourist rental.

In New York City, renting out an entire permanent residential apartment for fewer than 30 consecutive days is generally prohibited. Permitted short stays require the host to remain in the apartment, accommodate no more than two paying guests, and comply with registration and other rules. In other words, you generally cannot Airbnb your entire New York apartment for a week while you’re in Paris.

Paris also has strict tourist-rental rules. Renting out an entire primary residence to tourists is generally limited to 90 days per calendar year, with registration and other requirements. Tenants also need their landlord’s authorization, and the building’s rules must allow the activity.

That 90-day allowance does not automatically apply to a pied-à-terre. Tourist rental of a second home in Paris generally requires prior change-of-use authorization and additional formalities. The landlord’s permission alone is not enough.

Finding a Long-Term Furnished Apartment in Paris With Paris Rental

Paris Rental has worked with international clients since 1987. Our bilingual team helps with the apartment search, rental file, lease process, and move-in arrangements.

Explore our furnished apartments for rent in Paris long-term, or contact Paris Rental about your move from New York.

Whether you need a quiet bedroom for late calls with the U.S. or an elevator that fits a stroller, tell us what your everyday life will look like. Those details help us find a home that works after the suitcases are unpacked.