[iancar]

Hello everyone, with my first post on this great forum.

We'll be leaving the Great White North eastward bound back to Europe in the coming days, transiting for a short time in our homeland (UK) and then onwards to France.

We had a house all set up for the long term near Montpellier but sadly that all fell through - so need advice on good agencies who can find us a very long term rental (2-3 years) 50-60kms radius of Montpellier.

Obviously doing our own research, but any words of wisdom much appreciated.

Thanks!

Ian

 

[Bevdeforges]

Actually, what you're looking for isn't considered a "very" long term rental here. Residential property leases normally run for 3 years anyhow - so you're looking for a plain old rental.

I would be very wary of renting anything on a long-term basis until you have arrived and can view the property yourself and in person. What most folks do is to arrange for 2 to 4 weeks in a hotel or gite while they look for a place to live for the longer term. There are even now "apart-hotels" here in France - hotels with kitchenette facilities so you can live as though you were in a small apartment (cooking for yourself and all).

Finding a rental agency is usually a matter of walking in the door and meeting with the agent face to face. It's not that common for a rental agency to have an exclusive on any particular property. You pay the rental agent one or two months' rent if you rent a place they have shown you, but be very very careful not to let a second agent show you a place you've already seen. If you wind up renting it, you'll owe two agency fees.
Cheers,
Bev

 

[Tinabee]

Hi
can't help with agencies, but a 3 year rental is the norm in France if the property is unfurnished and for furnished properties, 1 year is normal with automatic renewal. The law on tenancies here in France favours the tenant so long term rentals are more common than short.

For finding property, a lot of people use LeBonCoin since both private and professional landlords advertise there

Annonces Languedoc-Roussillon - leboncoin.fr

 

[iancar]

Thanks to both Bev and Tinabee.

Ian