The student portal of Université Grenoble Alpes

Housing glossary

• Lease (or rental contract): contract signed between the tenant and the owner (or lessor). It sets out the obligations of both parties and the terms of the lease (duration, price, monthly rental charges, notice period, amount of security deposit, renewal terms).
• Guarantee: a document by which a person (the guarantor) personally undertakes to pay the tenant's rental debts (unpaid rent, costs relating to any damage) if the tenant is unable to pay them. The "joint and several" guarantee, often used in shared accommodation, means that the guarantor also undertakes to pay for the other tenants.
• Monthly rental charges: costs associated with the property, including maintenance of the elevator or green areas, janitor services, cleaning of common areas, etc. Charges may be included in the rent or specified in the rental contract. They should not be confused with energy consumption charges such as water, electricity and gas, which are billed by independent organizations.
• Security deposit: payment required on signing the lease, used as a guarantee to cover any damage caused by the tenant (unpaid rent or charges, damage to the property). At the end of the lease, the security deposit is returned to the tenant if no damage is noted during the exit inventory.
• Inventory of fixtures: visit carried out with the owner (or lessor) on entering the property, as well as on leaving. Its purpose is to establish the condition of the property on arrival, and to serve as a reference for the return of the security deposit on departure.
• Fees / Agency fees: If the owner uses a real estate agency or a professional to carry out the inventory of fixtures, a fee will be charged for signing the lease and carrying out the inventory of fixtures. These fees are regulated by law: a maximum of €10/m² in Grenoble and €8/m² in Valence, plus €3/m² for the initial inventory of fixtures.
• Furnished A property listed as "furnished" is already equipped. Even if the rent is generally higher, this means you don't have to buy equipment on site, which can be practical and ultimately cheaper for short stays. Accommodation must include at least :
  • A bed with comforter or blanket
  • Baking trays
  • Oven or microwave
  • A refrigerator
  • A storage cupboard outside the kitchen
  • Dishes, kitchen utensils, etc.
• Rent receipt: document issued by the landlord to prove payment of rent, which can be used as proof of address for administrative purposes. It is issued free of charge on request (however, there may be a charge for postage).

Housing ad vocabulary

Some housing ads use specific abbreviations or terms to describe the property. Here are the main ones:

• Asc. elevator

• Balc. balcony
• C.C.: rental charges are included in the listed price.
• Chambre chez l'habitant: room with access to sanitary facilities in an owner's home. Access to the kitchen is not always included.
• Fully equipped kitchen: includes at least one hob and a refrigerator
• Kitch. kitchenette, small kitchen
• Ground floor: first floor
• Sdb : bathroom
• Studio: single room with kitchenette. Bathroom and WC must be separate from the room.
• TCC: all charges included
• F1 / T1: apartment with 1 room, 1 kitchen, 1 bathroom
• F2 / T2 : apartment with 2 rooms, 1 kitchen, 1 bathroom
• F3 / T3 : apartment with 3 rooms, 1 kitchen, 1 bathroom