Student housing in Marseille:

Getting good quality housing at a reasonable rate is the biggest challenge for students. There are several options open to students in terms of housing in Marseille:

1- What do students have to say about housing in Marseille?

University Halls of residence
Studio Flats
House share/Flatshare

2- Why is l'Auberge different from traditional House share or flat share?

 

 

 

 

What do students have to say about housing in Marseille?

University Halls of residence

"The rooms are small and simple, just what a students needs. Each has a single bed, table, chair, cupboard and a washbasin. Toilets, showers and a kitchenette are available for communal use on each floor. I was lucky to get a room at Luminy student halls of residence but generally it’s not easy due to the high number of student. There is a shortage of rooms and are therefore hard to get unless you book very early"
Marie-Lou, 22 years old, Luminy faculty of science.

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Studio Flats

"When I joined campus, I wanted to be independent. A studio flats was extraordinarily appealing to me because I would have one big room (but not always) with a kitchen and separate bathroom right in downtown. However, Marseille being a student town, studios are highly demanded and are therefore very hard to get, especially during the school opening period (July to October). Rent for a central Marseille studio flat can also be quite expensive."
Anne, 19 years old, La Timone Faculty of medicine

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House share/Flatshare

Without doubt House or flat sharing is most students' favoured option.

"It can be very lonely living on your own especially when you are new in town and have no friends. I wanted to live surrounded by other people of my age with whom I could exchange my views and share expenses too. I discovered that living in Marseille's centre gives you easy access to the city's charming aura: Shopping, places for going out (restaurants, cafés, pub, cinema, and theatre), late night public transport…"
Simon, 21 years old, Euromed school of Management

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Why is l'Auberge different from traditional House share or flat share?

L’auberge’s Formula	Traditional House or flat sharing
Individual responsibility: You are only liable to pay for your own rent. Utility expenses are however shared equally among the flatmates.	Joint responsibility: Tenants are liable to pay for any unpaid rent or damage caused by a tenant.
Rent rebate*: Each student who satisfies the necessary conditions receives individual rent rebate.	Rent rebate* under conditions: In order to qualify for a rent rebate, two students living in a shared house or flat have to be of the same sex, otherwise you are considered to be living as a couple.
Flexible clause of solidarity: L’auberge is aware of students’ need of flexibility in their schedules. Students can adjust the rental duration after informing l’auberge at least a month in advance.	Strict clause of solidarity: In case of the departure of a cotenant, the other tenants are obliged to pay his/her share of rent or find a replacement. If a tenant leaves before the end of the period stipulated in the rent contract, he or she is liable to pay the rent for the remaining duration.

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*Students can benefit from a special social security reimbursement (the “Allocation Logement à caractère social”, ALS) which covers a part of the rent. It’s attributed by the social security organism “Caisse d’Allocations Familiales” (CAF) and starts from the second month of rent payment