Paris is not for the single, at least when it comes to looking for housing

Paris – High rental prices in Paris and the overall housing shortage are pushing more and more young couples to move in together sooner than they originally planned. Sharing costs is for many the only way to financially afford an apartment of acceptable size or in a more attractive neighborhood, writes Le Monde.

"Paris is not for singles. If you are alone, you will never find housing. Go to Leroy-Merlin or Tinder, but find a partner!" This advice was incredulously heard by 28-year-old programmer Marine, earning 2700 euros (67,800 Kč) a month, when she turned to a real estate agent for help in finding accommodation. After four months, she ultimately found decent housing in Courbevoie in the Hauts-de-Seine department, northwest of Paris. She was unable to find anything in the metropolis itself.

Conditions set by landlords are particularly unfavorable for young people. "They ask for a high deposit and several months' rent in advance. Along with the worsening access for entry-level job seekers and the increasing number of young people with precarious work contracts, landlord demands are also rising. Young people are becoming increasingly vulnerable in accessing independent housing," says sociologist Emmanuelle Maunaye, an expert on migration trends and the social integration of young people.

In Paris and its suburbs, a real estate agency may receive up to 300 responses within hours for an online listing, such is the overburdened market. It’s therefore not surprising when a housing seeker considers sharing costs.

Twenty-three-year-old freelance journalist Lola recently realized that she could secure greater comfort by living together with her partner. Until then, she had lived in a garden shed in the 14th arrondissement of Paris. Her boyfriend, whom she has been dating for four years, paid 600 euros (15,000 Kč) a month for a nine-square-meter maid’s room in the 16th arrondissement. Then he moved in with Lola, who discovered the "luxury" of sharing her 18-square-meter duplex apartment. They split the rent of 900 euros (22,600 Kč) in these inflationary times, as well as shopping expenses. Later, the couple found a more comfortable two-room apartment in Boulogne-Billancourt. "It was either shared housing or living an hour away from Paris," says Lola.

Lola notes that she carefully considered moving in with her partner, as she had seen many couples break up due to shared living. "In some separations, there were even bailiffs and police officers; it's crazy," says Lola, who herself has a legal background. If she and her boyfriend had the option, they might have moved in together later. Lola now fears that if she were to break up with her boyfriend, her quality of life would decrease, and she might even have to give up living in Paris.

Twenty-six-year-old Floriane, originally from the Paris region, ultimately rejected "routine" cohabitation with her partner. Near the end of her marketing studies at business school, she started an internship at a brokerage company. It was there that she met her partner, who was also interning there. While she received a job offer from the company, he did not, and so he returned to his home country of Luxembourg. Floriane found her first housing, a twenty-square-meter apartment in the 17th arrondissement of Paris.

"A little later, my boyfriend got a permanent contract at our company. He temporarily moved in with me. It was going well for us and was financially advantageous. With fees, we paid 900 euros (22,600 Kč), so 450 euros (11,300 Kč) each," praises Floriane.

After more than two years in a relationship, the couple agreed to find a larger apartment in the 16th arrondissement. The rent there was 1600 euros (40,200 Kč) a month, and when divided by two, they each paid 800 euros (20,000 Kč), which was one-third of their salaries. "It was an apartment that neither of us could afford on our own. It was beautiful, had 43 m², recently renovated, and had a balcony," says Floriane.

After two years in the job and a year of living together, Floriane decided to quit and leave the cohabitation without breaking up with her boyfriend. She chose to return to her parents in Asnières-sur-Seine on the outskirts of Paris.

"I had a permanent contract, everything planned out, a very reliable partner, friends living nearby... My life became too monotonous. I told myself that something needed to change before I completely stagnated," says Floriane.

"When you live with someone, you kind of give up what you would do if you were alone: painting, watching independent films, reading good books. Instead, you watch a film together that you have to agree on, play board games... You adapt and have less space for yourself. Only when the other person goes out do you rediscover your hobbies," continues Floriane.

After returning to her parents’ home in the suburbs, Floriane regained a greater zest for life, and the "spiciness" also returned to her relationship. "When we are together, we have more topics to talk about. We have more than just routine conversations about what each of us did during the day." Now, Floriane is convinced that their ideal as a childless couple would be for each of them to have their own space so they could decide when to see each other and when to be alone.