Assistance navigating the French Housing/ Banking System!

Hello,


I am a single college educated American male. I sold my beautiful split-level 3 bedroom home as well as the contents, both my vehicles (a fairly new loaded Chevy Suburban and a Jeep Wrangler). I had no mortgage, car payments or student loans. I did this in order to move to France. I arrived here July 13th. I have been unable to rent an appartment because a bank must guarantee a lease, despite the fact that I have transferred funds (at a shamefully significant loss due to the current exchange rate) into my French banking institution which would cover the amount of the rental for the next ten years and purchased stock I had no intention of buying, all to show my bank that I am financially independent and stable. They asked me to transfer a larger sum and I flat out refused to do so. They refused to guarantee the rental I was to move into.


I have been in a hotel since my arrival and just recently returned the rental car I was using and purchased a 2 year old Peugot. Needless to say with so much invested in this move I am NOT ready to give up. Does anyone here have any suggestions or ideas about how to rent without french rental agencies and banks involvement?





Have no idea if it is illegal but I'm sure most landlords will take your right arm off for the promise of a year's rent! Good luck!

The other thing you can do is INSIST that the agency calls the landlord and let you talk to them. We were in a similar situation and luckily the landlord was sensible and took us on - despite the agency's initial refusal to even talk to us.

Mind you, the first year, we had to pay the entire amount up front :(

rent privately! that's what most people do and what I've always done when "between houses", le bon coin is a great place to start ;-)

Hi Robert. Might I suggest posting your query in this SFN group? http://www.survivefrance.com/group/longtermlets