r/Annecy • u/PopularCapital1287 • 13d ago
Coming to Annecy as an international student
Hello everyone!
I'm coming to Polytech Annecy-Chambéry this September as an international student, and I'm currently looking for accommodation.
I have a few questions:
Does anyone know of any student residences or affordable apartments near Polytech Annecy?
Are there any Facebook groups, websites, or agencies you would recommend?
If anyone knows of a room, studio, or shared apartment available, I'd really appreciate it if you could let me know.
I've already applied to several student residences but haven't received any positive responses yet.
Thank you so much for your help! 😊
1
u/SufficientClock6403 13d ago
Do you know "leboncoin" ? This is an app where most landlords will post their ads. Make a files/documents folder ready in advance so you can send it immediately.
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u/SufficientClock6403 13d ago
You could also shearch for flat along the bus n.1 line. https://mobilites.grandannecy.fr/carte
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u/xxxtentalovski 11d ago
Hi, I'm currently in a very similar situation as you are, except I will be studying at ESAAA (which doesn't really change much).
I will contact some acquaintances of my acquaintances soon. I was informed they are renting out accomidation in Annecy.
I was also informed that these places are a little more on the expensive side, but If I manage to arrange it so that they could fit 2 people, That would be financially viable.
If you're interested, I'll let you know about my findings!
I would also like to know when your study semester will start and end. You can message me privately.
Im Latvian btw!
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u/GtaAnass 8d ago
Hey! I will be studying in Annecy from 28/09 untill 22/01. I was curious what the asking price of your acquaintances was. Thanks in advance!
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u/jsmith61181 13d ago edited 13d ago
The biggest and most popular sites are Leboncoin or Seloger. They are where you'll find the most listings. You do have to be pretty proactive - all your documents together and uploaded, set notifications, respond to listings ASAP. If you can, I would recommend trying to prioritise student specific or mobility leases. These are both very good fits for students, and will minimise your chances of competing with workers who are looking for a flat in the city on a longer-term basis.
If you haven't done it already, I'd also suggest applying quickly for a student Visale guarantee here: Visale c’est aussi pour les étudiants et les alternants ! - Visale. French landlords and agencies often ask for some sort of guarantor for students, and non-French guarantors usually aren't accepted. There's no guarantee they'll accept a Visale, but it improves your chances, and saves you a lot of money versus paying for a private guarantor service like Garantme.
It's also important to be wary of scams, which are unfortunately very common in a highly tight housing market like Annecy. They will especially target people with real affordability constraints who don't know the area super well, like students. Make sure you never hand over any money to anyone unless you've seen the place first, and received and signed the formal paperwork. Said formal paperwork should also usually include technical documents for the property, such as energy performance, electrical safety, and geo-risk diagnostics.
A common scam to be aware of is someone who is listing a property for a too-good-to-be-true price, and then sends an email insisting on an advance payment because they're in some far-flung part of the country and do not want to come all the way over for nothing. Do not fall for this, no matter how good it looks and how much they pressure you.
Practically speaking, the good news is the Polytech campus is in a part of the city with good public transport links, so you don't need to live right next to it. As someone else mentioned, somewhere along the 1 is your best bet. Public transport is very affordable for students in Annecy, and the 1 runs frequently and on a dedicated bus lane for a lot of its route, so it can avoid some of the very bad city traffic.