FAQ

A flatshare is when multiple tenants rent the same accommodation.

Coliving (co = together, living = living) is when multiple tenants rent the same accommodation with a private bedroom, private or shared bathroom, common spaces, and services.

Every day, we create the conditions to develop Casas.

A Casa is a positive coliving community, as opposed to coliving, which is a shared accommodation managed with services.

These conditions include: sharing values, cooptation, spacious and equipped living spaces incorporating both private and common areas, a variety of services, and community living rules.

The first Casa opened in July 2018. In 2019 and 2020, we opened 5 Casas, and in 2021, 7 new Casas were born!

To begin the application process, click on “Apply Now” at the top right of your screen. Fill in your information, select all the Casas you are interested in, even those that are currently full, and confirm your video call appointment to chat with a Community Creator who will answer all your questions.

Submitting an application does not commit you to anything until you have visited a Casa and met the current housemates.

We welcome all profiles, as long as there is a genuine motivation to live in a community!

However, since you will be living in a communal setting and we offer a unique living experience, we cannot accept your application if:

• You plan to stay for a very short duration (< 6 months)

• You wish to move in with a pet, a child, or as a couple

• You are not interested in community living

• You are underage

The application form allows you to select multiple Casas that match your location and budget preferences. We highly recommend selecting several to increase your chances. You will have the opportunity to visit multiple houses; however, visits will be scheduled based on availability rather than preference order. During the video call appointment with a member of the Community Creation team, you can add or remove Casa choices.

Yes, of course, because your application will be ready. You will have all the necessary information and we will be able to contact you to advance your request when we have availabilities that match your search period.

Please note that you should not consider the current availabilities as they will not be the same in a few months. Therefore, you should select all Casas that meet your budget and commute time criteria.

Here are the steps:

1. 1. Complete the application form.

2. 2. Have your video call appointment.

3. 3. Prepare your financial documents.

4. 4. Meet the roommates, visit the house, and the available room.

5. 5. Confirm your interest or lack thereof for this Casa.

6. 6. The roommates will give us their decision within a maximum of 48 hours after the visit.

7. 7. Validation of your file and signing of contractual documents.

8. 8. Move-in possible from the lease start date.

9. 9. Integration into the community !

This video call appointment is a crucial step in advancing your application and lasts between 20 and 30 minutes. You will receive all the necessary information via email beforehand from the Community Creator with whom you will have the appointment.

The purpose of this appointment is to:

1. 1. Complete your file.

2. 2. Learn more about your desire to join a Casa and validate your motivations.

3. 3. Advise you and confirm with you which Casas match your search.

4. 4. Provide information on availability and upcoming visits.

5. 5. Answer all your questions.

L'intégration à une Casa peut se faire en 1 semaine et demie comme elle peut prendre un peu plus de temps. Plusieurs facteurs vont avoir un impact sur cette durée :

• Les disponibilités dans les Casas qui correspondent à ta recherche

• La période à laquelle tu cherches à emménager

• Ce sont les colocataires qui choisissent le futur coloc parmi les candidats intéressés

Oui, la rencontre avec les colocataires est obligatoire et la visite de la maison n'est pas obligatoire pour ceux qui ne sont pas sur Paris ou en France dans ce cas une rencontre en visio sera organisée. Il n'y a rien de mieux que de se rencontrer autour d'un apéro ou d'un goûter.

Il n'est pas possible de venir accompagné. Les visites sont groupées avec d'autres candidats et les colocataires les accueillent chez eux pour les rencontrer. Il est important pour eux de se concentrer sur les personnes intéressées pour les rejoindre.

Pour l'ouverture d'une nouvelle Casa, l'équipe de Création de Communautés sélectionne les 2/3 des futurs colocs sur des critères de motivation et d'adéquation avec le concept. Ce sont ces premiers colocataires que l'on nomme "Fondateurs". Pourquoi Fondateurs ? Car ce sont eux qui choisissent le dernier tiers des colocataires parmi les candidats qu'ils rencontreront pendant la journée de Cooptation. Ils "fondent" donc leur communauté.

NB : le rôle de Fondateur est temporaire et disparait quand la communauté est au complet ou quand le délai maximum défini par le Staff est dépassé.

For new Casas, it's all about building a brand new community !

There are 2 key visits: the Founders Meetup and the Co-optation Day.

If you're identified by the Community Creation team as a potential Founder, the Founders Meetup is the time when the team will meet them to form the group of Founders. There's a Casa tour, a private discussion with a team member, an explanation of administrative details, and a more informal time for everyone to get to know each other.

If you're not identified as a potential Founder or if the group of Founders is already complete, you'll be invited to participate in the Co-optation Day, which is the meeting time between candidates and Founders. Several visiting slots are available, there's a tour time, and a time to chat with everyone.

Roommates set a visit date and welcome all candidates into their home to meet them. This typically takes the form of a casual gathering, often over drinks, providing an opportunity to see the house, the available room, and meet all the roommates. Visits usually start from 6 pm on weekdays and can be arranged on weekends. In some cases, the visit can be replaced by a video call if everyone agrees.

For an already open Casa, we ask roommates to provide their feedback within 48 hours maximum following the visit. For a Casa in the opening phase, we provide a response to the Founders the day after the visit and to the candidates within 48 hours after the visit.

Each Casa is unique with its own dynamic, and roommates choose based on gut feeling. It's important for roommates to select each other to avoid discord and personality clashes. This fosters a positive community !

Sometimes it doesn't always work out on the first visit, and that's okay because other opportunities may arise. If you're interested in other available Casas, you'll be invited to participate in them!

Contractually, there is no minimum length of stay imposed. However, we ask each candidate to consider staying for a minimum of 6 months if everything goes well. Below this duration, we believe it's not feasible to build connections, and the application may be declined.

Switching to a different Casa is possible for an already settled roommate, but they must go through the co-optation process without any exceptions and cannot become a Founder of a new Casa.

Before confirming your interest in a Casa, take the time to carefully consider if it's a sustainable opportunity for you (e.g., commute time to your workplace).

When a notice is submitted in a Casa, the Community Creation team contacts the Co-optation Referees to arrange a meeting between roommates and candidates. Once the date is set by the roommates, the team contacts the waiting list of candidates to offer them the opportunity to meet and visit the house. The community values meeting candidates in person! After this visit, roommates rank the candidates based on the feeling, and then the team asks the selected person if they wish to join the community.

Today, we are the only ones in the Coliving sector in Paris to allow roommates to choose among interested individuals!

The two most important criteria initially are: your budget and the location of your workplace.

To create a list of Casas that interest you, we recommend using the Citymapper website or app to simulate your commute. You'll find all the information about the nearest metro or RER stations to each Casa, along with the walking time to get there, which helps you gauge a realistic commute time.

This subject will be revisited during the video call appointment anyway.

Unfortunately, it's not possible to visit a Casa if no rooms are available. Since roommates live in the houses, we want to respect their privacy. If you have selected a fully occupied house, you will be notified as soon as a room becomes available and can visit the available room following the video call with the team.

We advise you to use the CityMapper app to calculate your travel times from the Casas. Many roommates have reported significant differences between the actual travel time and that indicated by Google Maps.

If you're motivated by community living and eager to meet new people, then Casas are the perfect fit for you.

Yes, available spots are updated daily based on departure notices and the opening of new Casas.

Our Casas are currently located in the inner suburbs of Paris in the departments of Hauts-de-Seine (92), Seine-Saint-Denis (93), and Val-de-Marne (94). They are all within a 10-minute walk of a metro or RER station for quick access to central Paris, guaranteed in less than 30 minutes door-to-door.

At the moment, we do not have Casas within central Paris. It's currently a project under consideration, which will take on a different form from our garden Casas located in the Parisian suburbs.

For the moment, all our Casas are in Paris. We're considering opening in other cities in France, so feel free to follow us on LinkedIn or Instagram for updates !

The two most important criteria initially are: your budget and the location of your workplace.

To create a list of Casas that interest you, we recommend using the Citymapper website or app to simulate your commute. You'll find all the information about the nearest metro or RER stations to each Casa, along with the walking time to get there, which helps you gauge a realistic commute time.

This subject will be revisited during the video call appointment anyway.

Unfortunately, it's not possible to visit a Casa if no rooms are available. Since roommates live in the houses, we want to respect their privacy. If you have selected a fully occupied house, you will be notified as soon as a room becomes available and can visit the available room following the video call with the team.

Yes, the kitchens, like all the rooms in the house, have been designed for communal living. Each kitchen has multiple refrigerators, dishwashers, stovetops, cooking utensils, etc. Roommates all have their own schedules, so it's rare for everyone to be cooking at the same time.

Our Casas are fully equipped to facilitate communal living: spacious and cozy common areas for socializing and comfortable rooms for enjoying personal time.

Common areas include:

Living room with sofas, armchairs, and TV

Dining room with a 3-meter-long table, buffets

Kitchen

Chill-out area with sofas and TV

Laundry room with washing machines, dryers, clothes rack, ironing board, iron, etc.

Garden and/or outdoor courtyard with garden furniture

Additionally, there are fantastic common spaces, depending on the theme of the Casas, such as:

Cinema room

Gym

Sauna

Permaculture greenhouse

Co-working space

Private areas include:

Bedroom with bathroom and toilet

Each Casa has an outdoor space: garden or outdoor courtyard with a wooden terrace. All these spaces are furnished with garden furniture, BBQ, large wooden table, and pergola.

All our Casas are photographed by a professional photographer before roommates move in.

For new Casas, we may use photos from other Casas to illustrate, and official photos will be available in a few days.

Casas are tailored for communal living as they strike a balance between community life and individual privacy. The common areas are designed and planned to accommodate the expected number of roommates.

The Casas are located less than 10 minutes on foot from a metro or RER station.

We advise you to use the CityMapper app to calculate your travel times from the Casas. Many roommates have reported significant differences between the actual travel time and that indicated by Google Maps.

Yes, all our photos are taken in the Casas with roommates and staff.

If you're motivated by community living and eager to meet new people, then Casas are the perfect fit for you.

All rooms include: a bed with a Tediber mattress, a desk with a chair, wardrobes with hangers, and either wardrobes or dressers.

The majority of the rooms are equipped with beds measuring 140x200 cm, while the other beds measure 120x200 cm.

Each room has its own bathroom with a shower, toilet, and sink. There are no shared bathrooms. Additionally, there are communal toilets.

The rooms range from 11 to 13m², including the bathroom.

You can see the current availability here.

The rooms available in the open Casas always have a lease start date in less than one month. If you are looking for a Casa for a move-in date in more than one month, then the current availability should not impact your Casa choices. We can receive a move-out notice at any time, and a Casa that is full today might be available tomorrow.

During the opening of a new Casa, priority is given to the person whose room choice ranked lowest. Upon the first departure, they are therefore prioritized for changing rooms and claiming the one that becomes available. Subsequently, either the priority is given to the most recently arrived roommate, or the community agrees internally. We do not intervene in this decision.

In the new Casas, we allocate rooms as follows:

1. 1. Each roommate ranks all the rooms according to their preferences.

2. 2. The team collects the rankings from everyone.

3. 3. An algorithm calculates the best allocation based on the rankings of each roommate to maximize overall satisfaction.

4. 4. The team communicates the final allocation.

If you join an existing Casa: you will have the available room, but know that as soon as one of your roommates leaves, you will have priority to take over their room if you believe it's better than the one you initially had.

It's very important to agree with this system to validate your spot.

You can decorate and rearrange your room as you wish. When you leave Casa, the room must be returned to its original condition. Depending on the size of your room, you may or may not add furniture. Be aware, any furniture removed must be stored and put back in place by you upon your departure.

The rate includes rent, all utilities such as electricity, water, heating, high-speed fiber optic internet, home insurance, civil liability insurance, management of the residence tax, and services.

We charge lower application fees than traditional agencies. The fees we apply cover the creation of your file (lease, service contract) and support throughout your application process until integration into the house.

All rooms in Casas are priced the same. The displayed price is for one room and does not vary based on its size.

The rent for houses depends on various factors: location, house features, proximity to transportation...

All services included in the price:

• - Netflix subscription

• - Canal + subscription

• - Fiber Internet subscription

• - Boiler and VMC (Ventilation Mechanical Control) maintenance contract

• - Cleaning of common areas (twice a week)

• - InterCasas events (afterworks, thematic workshops)

• - Monthly Shared Dinner budget

• - Monthly common groceries budget (for buying cleaning and household products, condiments, tea, and coffee...)

• - Preferential rate access to Gymlib (sports subscription)

• - Thematic equipment and premium furniture kit (projector, sports equipment, garden furniture, small culinary appliances, garden furniture, hi-fi, leisure and games)

• - Management of rotations (video interviews with candidates, organization of candidate visits)

• - Maintenance (maintenance and replacement of appliances, furniture maintenance and replacement, pruning of large trees, purchases for interior and roof maintenance, operational management related to Urbest ticket processing)

• Smart door management (At La Casa, there are no keys for a reduced mental load)

Coliving is a housing solution that necessarily includes a set of services. At La Casa, it is not possible to refuse them; they are common to the entire community and cannot be à la carte for the internal functioning and cohesion of the group.

All Casas have the same services. The only difference is the theme, which is simply represented by a themed room or equipment. For example: a cinema room, a gym, a large garden with a greenhouse, or a fully equipped kitchen.

The Operations team at La Casa assists the residents in managing the maintenance of their house. They intervene for emergencies and for daily maintenance. For issues that can be easily resolved, the Maintenance Referees act as the liaisons for the Operations team.

For permanent contracts (CDI), civil servants, or fixed-term contracts (CDD) with more than 6 months remaining:

• - Valid ID

• - Current French work contract signed and stamped or with an electronic signature / signed and stamped job offer

• - Last 3 pay slips if employed for at least 3 months

• - Most recent tax assessment

• - European or online bank RIB (e.g., N26 and Revolut)

Note: If the contract is recent and you do not yet have pay slips, the file will also be accepted, provided that the contract is signed with the company's seal.

For all other statuses (students, apprentices, fixed-term contracts with less than 6 months remaining, intermittent workers, entrepreneurs, freelancers):

• - GarantMe eligibility certificate

• - Valid ID

• - European or online bank RIB (e.g., N26 and Revolut)

If you are on a permanent contract (CDI), a civil servant, or on a fixed-term contract (CDD) with more than 6 months remaining, your financial documentation will automatically be accepted. Probation periods do not affect the acceptance of your file. We do not require you to earn 2 or 3 times the amount of the rent.

For freelancers, students, apprentices, interns, self-employed individuals, freelancers, unemployed, etc., we have solutions with our partners GarantMe and SmartGarant! They have been our partners since the beginning of the project and allow us to validate profiles with various professional situations. A secure solution in case of any issues.

All Casas are eligible for CAF (Caisse d'Allocations Familiales) assistance. The amount of these aids depends on the profile and personal situation of each roommate. The procedures are the responsibility of each individual, and a tutorial is provided to assist with this process once the contractual documents are signed.

Each roommate is covered by home insurance that covers remote work, by GLI (Unpaid Rent Insurance), or by Garantme guarantee.

Il s'agit d'un contrat de colocation logement meublé unique, loi de 1989. Les nouveaux colocataires sont ajoutés avec des avenants au bail.

There is a solidarity clause in the lease with minimal risk for the roommates.

In case of non-payment: all roommates are covered by a rent guarantee insurance (GLI) or by a Garantme guarantee, so the insurance intervenes if a payment default is observed. In other words: no roommate will have to pay for another resident who is unable to pay their rent!

In case of a roommate's departure: La Casa's Community Creation team starts searching for a replacement as soon as they receive a notice of departure. The goal is to present candidates to the roommates for a visit as soon as possible during the notice period. The solidarity clause can only be activated if we have presented candidates and none have been selected by the roommates. If the Community Creation team is unable to present candidates, this clause does not apply.

The notice period for departure is one month because it is a furnished accommodation in a tight housing market.

For a rented accommodation, each person listed on a lease as of January 1st must pay their residence tax. La Casa facilitates the payment management of this tax. The tax authorities will send the notice by mail or email to one or two people listed on the lease as of January 1st.

La Casa collects from each roommate their share and will transfer the amount to one of the designated persons on the notice to settle the residence tax. For the year 2022, the tax ranged from €50 to €200 per person.

Starting in 2023, no household will pay residence tax on their primary residence anymore (source: service-public.fr).

The security deposit is twice the amount of the rent excluding charges and services. It only concerns the room occupied by the tenant. Depending on La Casa, it ranges between €1150 and €1500. It is collected by La Casa after the lease is signed and before moving in. It is not possible to pay it by bank transfer, check, or cash. 

This amount is refunded upon inspection of the room upon departure.

The rent, charges, and services are debited on the 5th of each month in two withdrawals: the first for the rent and charges, and the second for the services. Each roommate signs a SEPA mandate. It is not possible to pay the rent by bank transfer, check, or cash.

No, the rent is prorated. For example, if the lease starts on January 13th, you will be charged for the days from January 13th to January 31st.

Across all Casas, the average age is 30 years old, with a core group between 25 and 35 years old.

The minimum age is 18 years old; we cannot sign contracts with minors even if they have a guarantor. There is no maximum age limit; as long as each candidate is motivated and gets along well with the roommates, anything is possible !

Unfortunately, it's difficult to accommodate our four-legged friends. Living with an average of 13 people, allergies are common, and some roommates may be afraid of or may not wish to live with an animal. That's why we cannot accept them. Perhaps one day we'll have this possibility !

There is no offer designed for couples or established groups. A room is linked to a set of services for a single person that we cannot divide in two. If two or more people want to move in together, they must individually go through the application process and each pay for a room. Since it's the roommates who choose, we cannot guarantee that all of you will be selected. Additionally, a Casa is only adapted for the number of roommates indicated.

As of now, we do not have a Casa to accommodate two-parent or single-parent families, and currently our Casas are not suitable for children. There are other shared housing solutions available for families!

Roommates are in contact with:

• - Community Facilitators, who are responsible for setting up and ensuring the smooth operation of services and events organized by La Casa. They also provide support on organizing community life.

• - Community Creators, who handle the search for candidates to replace departing roommates and form communities for new Casas.

• - The Maintenance team, which intervenes in Casas to address technical issues raised by roommates through tickets.

For your information, the La Casa team does not live in the Casas. To discover the rest of the team, click here!

Our communication tool with roommates is WhatsApp. Each Casa has its own WhatsApp group.

We organize community life by asking everyone to assign themselves roles as Referees during a General Assembly. These roles are not imposed on anyone, but we encourage each roommate to participate in something.

The roles of Referees are: Co-living, Co-option, Monthly courses, InterCasas, Common shopping, Maintenance, Neighbors, Food management, and Cleaning.

This allows the team to facilitate exchanges and contact the relevant people.

Each roommate at La Casa signs the Co-living Pact, which is a contract between roommates listing several rules to follow. In the event of an issue compromising community life and affecting the well-being of other roommates, there's a yellow card and red card system that can be activated. The La Casa team supports these delicate situations and advises roommates on how to handle them effectively.

The majority of our roommates are between 25 and 35 years old and are employed. We also have freelancers, self-employed individuals, students, freelancers, and people in various professions. All of them value social connections and prefer not to live alone during transitional periods in their lives.

Roommates typically stay for about a year and a half in their Casa. Just as a side note, some roommates have been present since 2018, the opening date of the first Casa.

The cohabitation agreement provides a set of simple rules to kickstart the community. Once settled, roommates adapt it during a General Assembly to align with the needs of their community.

At La Casa, you are at home! You can invite whoever you want... as long as the entire community agrees

You are under no obligation to share all your meals with your roommates. Everyone has their own lifestyle. However, you receive Foodette baskets twice a month to cook together. It's a good excuse for everyone to get together!

Plenty of activities, included in the rent, punctuate the roommates' lives!

• - Monthly classes: cooking, sports, cryptocurrency decryption, poker, gardening...

• - Shared dinner

• - InterCasas events and Afterworks, where roommates from all Casas gather for a drink or an activity

• - Ambassador Program events

• Apart from what is offered by the La Casa team, Casas often gather for birthdays, housewarmings, costume parties... or for no particular reason.

No activity is mandatory; you can choose not to participate in everything.

We aim to break the traditional landlord/tenant relationship. Everyone uses informal language "tu" and we create a real closeness with the roommates!

We intervene in various areas: community creation, community animation, house and equipment maintenance. We are community facilitators.

Each Casa has its own atmosphere, always joyful and caring. Casas often organize events among themselves. Typically, roommates plan more relaxed activities during the week and livelier ones on weekends.

Most of the time, when a roommate leaves La Casa, it's for professional or personal reasons. Some leave to permanently settle down with their partner, often met at La Casa. It also happens that some individuals feel they have completed their experience at La Casa and aspire to a different lifestyle :)

We are very attentive to all the feedback provided by the roommates.