Apartment Hunting 2025 in Paris: Once Again a Real Challenge

Published: August 2025

Apartment hunting in Paris is never a walk in the park. But especially at the start of the new academic year between July and October, it turns into a true feat – as an report from PAP.fr impressively shows.

The pressure is enormous – even as more listings appear

Compared to 2024, the supply of student housing has risen by 14%, as many young people – previously tenants of small apartments – are purchasing their first homes, thereby freeing up their rentals. Yet in practice, this improvement is barely noticeable: demand is structurally so high that even the additional apartments are immediately taken.

Paris: Housing turns into a goldmine

In Paris, the competition reaches unprecedented levels – according to PAP.fr, an average apartment listing for one- to three-room units receives an incredible 743 inquiries, with some skyrocketing to over 1,000 contacts within just a few days. Particularly in demand are very small and relatively affordable apartments (e.g., studios of around 16 m² for about €727 per month).

The "Petite Couronne" as an alternative – but still under pressure

Many students turn to the smaller Parisian suburbs, the so-called "Petite Couronne" – for example Boulogne-Billancourt, Colombes, Villejuif, and Vitry-sur-Seine. While competition there is somewhat less extreme (about 278 inquiries per listing), it is still enormous in absolute terms. The apartments are usually a bit larger and better suited for shared living, but many students are still drawn to life intra muros.

Pressure rising rapidly even in the provinces

Even outside the Île-de-France region, the situation is tightening: in major university cities such as Lyon, Marseille, or Toulouse, student apartments receive an average of 142 inquiries. Across the provinces, supply is shrinking – while demand is rising – with the sharpest contrasts seen in metropolitan areas such as Paris.

Conclusion

Apartment hunting remains challenging – an ordeal faced by students year after year, but reaching its peak between July and October. The situation is serious, but not hopeless – with smart strategies, flexibility (e.g., regarding location or type of housing), and strong commitment, success is still possible.

If you are looking for an apartment in Paris for yourself or your children, I would be happy to support you with my expertise! Alternatively, I recommend my compact guide, where you’ll find plenty of valuable tips for your direct apartment search in Paris.