VINGT Paris

Renting your new Paris property

Apartment owned and decorated by Christiana Konstantinou
One of the first things to decide is whether you are aiming for long-term or holiday short term rentals.

As Paris is the most popular tourist destination on the planet, it can be suitable for short term rental but location is crucially important. Go for properties within shooting distance of the major attractions, basically, arrondissiment's 1 thru 8. I have my own particular preferences (based on most requested by rental clients!) which top the rest (the Marais, St Germain/Luxembourg Gardens and Montorgueill and Palais-Royal/Louvre areas). Take my advice and avoid the over-priced 8th (Champs Elyseés) and difficult to access Montmartre.

Bonapart approved by Association of International Property Professionals

Bonapart is proud to announce it's acceptance as a member of the Association of International Property Professionals AIPP and adherence to the AIPP's Code of Conduct.

In an effort to improve the professional standards of the international property market, Members of the AIPP have voluntarily committed themselves to industry regulation.

When you see that a company is a Member, it means:

French Property auctions

1.La vente judiciaire en cas de saisie immobilière. This is a repossession auction and takes place at the bar of the Tribunal de Grande Instance. A lawyer is required to submit the sealed bids.

2.La vente volontaire devant notaire. This is a public auction conducted by a notaire on the instructions of the owner, such as when a property is left to a number of relatives.

3.La vente des domaines. This is a public auction of state-owned property or property that is vacant, such as following a death where there are no named heirs.

Where can people find out about auctions?
Categories 2 and 3 above are public sales, open to everybody and advertised by notaires, usually via small ads in the regional or national press, at the notaire's office and on the internet (Marchê Immobilier des Notaires - MIN). Information usually includes the date and place of the sale and instructions on where you can consult the cahier des charges (property details).

For judicial auctions (Category 1, above), guidelines exist to ensure as widespread a visibility as possible. Such auctions are posted on boards at the property itself, at the Town Hall, the Court house, and advertisements are placed in the legal, local or national press. The whole schedule of upcoming auctions is available from the Tribunal de Grande Instance.

The Annual general meeting of the property and... mice infestation

I read of an interesting problem recently on Jean Tacquet's "Survival Kit for Paris" newsletter that I am sure he won't mind if I share with you. It sums up the frustrating business of dealing with one's Syndic (the management group in charge of the running of the co-owned apartment buildings in Paris).

It's a Parisian pastime to moan about the Syndic and how inefficient, overpaid and downright corrupt they are. This particular problem is quite heartbreaking because the owners must have shelled out around 10,000 euros a m² and are now faced with the problem of some unwelcome visitors along with their short term rental guests. And no end in sight...

"We recently bought a nice apartment for very short-term rentals in a really premium location, facing the river and the Ile de la Cité. Everything went fine and business was good until the building, and especially the apartments facing the riverfront, got invaded with mice. The building manager was immediately informed of this and we have been told that the matter was being handled, but we have seen no changes in our apartment.