Another little challenge just to keep life interesting
Now that my professional life is sorted, another little challenge has cropped up just to keep things interesting. My task of finding an apartment in Lyon is proving just that, a challenge. Something which I was not aware of was the total paranoia of property owners, and quite rightly so. It seems that once a “locataire” has moved into their property, they have every right in the world…they can stop paying rent and there is nothing the property owner or the law can do about it. So, to prevent this kind of situation, most real estate agents ask the prospective tenant to provide a “garant” or guarantor. It is not sufficient to prove you have a steady (or even substantial) income or are of good character. Unless you can provide a “garant” or the equivalent of a year’s rent as guarantee ($1000.00), you can forget about getting an apartment in France.
At this stage, I have several options…. accept the situation and stay where I am (something I plan to do for the short term, move in with someone who already has an apartment (not really an option), or persevere and find a solution. Those who know me know that I do not give up easily. I always get what I want. So although I may temporarily accept the situation (I’m not after desperate for somewhere to live), I will find a solution to this problem. Stay tuned.