Introduction

Just signed the rental contract in France, and suddenly there’s a lot to do, just like starting a new job: EDF electricity contract, broadband, water, home insurance, CAF address change, police station, bank, social security... Whether you’re coming from Casablanca, Hanoi, Dakar, Lisbon, Bogotá, or Bucharest, the trouble isn’t the number of tasks but the order and hidden waiting times. If you delay ordering broadband by a week, you’ll be relying on your mobile hotspot next month; if you don’t change the name on the EDF contract in time, your electricity will be cut off on the 5th of next month; if you don’t update your CAF address within 30 days, your APL housing benefit will be frozen, and you won’t receive anything for three months.

This guide is aimed at foreigners moving to France for the first time and those relocating between different cities in France. All prices have been verified for the first quarter of 2026, and the timelines reflect actual situations rather than the "ideal values" provided by customer service.

Before Moving In: 3 Weeks to 15 Days Window

This is the crucial phase for organizing everything. Waiting until the day of moving in will cost you more.

• EDF Electricity Contract: Set up your account 15 days before moving in via the edf.fr website or by phone (3004). You will need a PDL number (point de livraison) or PRM number, which can be found on the Linky smart meter or the previous tenant's bill. If you can't find it, EDF can look it up by address. Activation takes 2 to 5 working days. Standard activation without a technician visit is free; if a technician is needed, the standard fee is 30.37 euros, and for urgent requests, it’s 70.40 euros.
• EDF Package Options: The Tarif Bleu regulated electricity price is the basic option (around 0.2516 euros/kWh including tax at the beginning of 2026, base package, 6 kVA). Heures Creuses (off-peak pricing) is suitable for those who do laundry at night or charge electric vehicles. Tempo is for those who can minimize electricity use on "red days" (22 days a year), potentially saving 150-400 euros a year in a T2 apartment. Competitors like TotalEnergies, OHM Énergie, Mint, and Engie usually offer discounts of 5-12% on the kWh price. Be sure to check the national energy mediator comparison website (energie-info.fr) before signing.
• Water Contract: The water company is determined by the local municipality, and users cannot choose. In Paris, it’s Eau de Paris, in Lyon it’s Eau du Grand Lyon, and in Marseille, it’s SEM. Other areas are mostly served by Veolia, Suez, or SAUR. Ask the building manager (syndic) or the previous tenant for clarification. The activation fee is around 30 euros.
• Broadband: Order it 3 to 4 weeks before moving in. If the fiber optic connection isn’t activated yet, the technician will need this time to schedule a visit. The entry-level fiber price in 2026: Free Pop 29.99 euros/month for the first year, Bouygues B&You 23.99 euros, Sosh (under Orange) 24.99 euros, RED by SFR 24.99 euros. Premium packages like Orange Livebox, SFR Power, and Bouygues Bbox UltYm range from 40-50 euros/month and are only worth it for heavy home video conferencing or if you need a TV package.
• Canceling Old Suppliers (if you are already in France): Send a registered letter with acknowledgment of receipt (recommandé avec accusé de réception, RAR), stating "déménagement" (moving). This is the keyword for free contract termination, meaning no penalties even if you are still in a commitment period. Be sure to keep a copy.

Move-In Inspection (état des lieux d'entrée): The Most Overlooked Step

To be clear: 80% of deposit disputes stem from a careless move-in inspection. The landlord compares the move-in and move-out inspection reports; any flaws not noted during the move-in will be charged to you when you move out.

On the day of key handover:

1. Take at least 50 timestamped photos. Every room, every wall, every outlet, floor, ceiling, faucet, oven, refrigerator, and blinds.
2. Write down every issue: rusty radiators, peeling paint, broken outlets, moldy shower seals, windows that won’t close, leaking toilets, loose baseboards. Request the agent to note these on the inspection report. If the agent refuses, write them in the blank spaces on the report and sign it.
3. On the same day, record the readings from the EDF meter, gas meter, and water meter. Take photos + precise numbers.
4. For issues discovered after moving in (basement odors, neighbor noise, leaks), you have 10 days to send a registered letter requesting an additional inspection report. After 10 days, you have to accept the situation.

Experiences from immigrants confirm this. Karim, a Tunisian engineer who moved to Lyon in 2024, lost 1100 euros of his deposit because he didn’t note the mold under the sink. Meilin, a Chinese student in the 13th arrondissement of Paris, got her full deposit back in 2025 thanks to 87 inspection photos stored in Google Photos. Mamadou, a Senegalese nurse in Saint-Denis, suggests bringing along a French friend who understands the law — an extra pair of eyes can deter landlords from taking advantage.

Administrative Matters: 30-Day Time Window

You must complete these tasks within about a month after moving in, or you risk losing benefits:

• CAF (Housing Benefit Management): Report your address change on caf.fr within 30 days. If you receive APL housing benefits, the system will recalculate. Forgetting to report will freeze your APL immediately, and it may take 2-3 months to resume payments.
• Prefecture/Residence Card: Most types of residence cards do not require mandatory reporting when moving within France, but you must update your address on ANEF (administration-etrangers-en-france.interieur.gouv.fr) before renewal; otherwise, the new card will be sent to the old address.
• Social Security (Ameli): Update your address in your ameli.fr account, which affects your Carte Vitale and reimbursements.
• Bank: Change your address either in person or online. Most banks like BNP, SG, BoursoBank, Revolut, and N26 accept electronic proof (a recent EDF bill will suffice).
• City Hall (mairie): Not mandatory, but you can request a certificate of residence (certificat de domicile), which is useful for subsequent tasks (school enrollment, consulate matters).
• Post Office (La Poste): Mail forwarding service, for 6 or 12 months. Domestic 6 months for 35 euros, 12 months for 65 euros. If you might still receive tax bills, bank letters, or social security letters at your old address, this is essential.

Actual Moving Costs

This section is always underestimated. Specific scenarios for 2026:

• From Paris to Lyon, studio apartment, 15 cubic meters: Rent a van for a day from Drivy or Citiz, costing 80-130 euros + fuel (the highway from Paris to Lyon is about 85 euros). If you have a driver's license and a friend to help, the total cost will be around 250 euros.
• From Marseille to Toulouse, one-bedroom apartment, professional moving company: Depending on distance and floors, it ranges from 800-1500 euros. Comparison websites: DeMenageur.com, Movinga, Demeco.
• Charity Moving: In Paris and major cities, you can contact Emmaüs Coup de Main or Compagnons Bâtisseurs, charging 0-200 euros for low-income families. Waiting time is 2-6 weeks.
• Temporary Storage: If there’s a gap between leases, Homebox, Une Pièce en Plus, and Costockage charge 50-120 euros/month. Suburban areas are often cheaper than city centers.

Unwritten Rules of Moving in Immigrant Communities

Beyond prices, there’s the power of what the Chinese community calls "lending a hand." WhatsApp, WeChat, and Facebook groups across various ethnicities offer levels of professional services that are hard to find.

• Marseille: The "Marseille Moroccan Mutual Aid" group often organizes Sunday moves: four or five cousins rent a Renault Master van for 90 euros, and everyone ends up sharing a tagine meal afterward. The Bricomarché area and La Calade district are common.
• 13th Arrondissement of Paris: The Vietnamese and Chinese communities revolve around the temple and Tang Frères on avenue d'Ivry. A simple message in the right WeChat group often finds a 12 cubic meter van from a fellow Guangdong compatriot for 60 euros/hour paid in cash.
• Champigny-sur-Marne: Known as "Little Lisbon" by the Portuguese, the Portuguese association (Cap Magellan, Association portugaise de Champigny) shares community van and weekend volunteer information, often only requiring a meal in exchange.
• Saint-Denis and Sevran: Groups of Malians, Senegalese, and Ivorians (many connected to the Château Rouge market network) help each other through a "take turns helping" system, where today I help you, and next time you help the next newcomer.
• Guillotière in Lyon: The Algerian, Turkish, and Armenian communities share a local informal mover, with prices far below those of professional companies.

The common unwritten rule: Ask politely, bring food, and return the favor next time. This social capital is as valuable as a quote from Demeco.

Conclusion

• Broadband: Order 3-4 weeks in advance, Free and Bouygues for 24-30 euros/month is sufficient.
• EDF: 15 days before moving in, compare on energie-info.fr.
• Inspection: At least 50 photos, document all flaws or supplement within 10 days.
• CAF: Change address within 30 days, or APL will be suspended.
• Cancel old contracts: state "déménagement" = no penalty.
• Post office mail forwarding: 35 euros / 6 months, letters at the old address won’t be lost.
• Make good use of the community: van + helpers = save 500-1000 euros.

About Pionra

On Pionra, immigrant communities from various countries share moving tips, recommend fellow countrymen’s moving teams, and name problematic agencies by city. The Chinese community is at /fr/communautes/cn, the Moroccan community at /fr/communautes/ma, Senegal at /fr/communautes/sn, Portugal at /fr/communautes/pt, and the service provider directory is at /fr/annuaire?category=epicerie.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to set up broadband in a new apartment in France?

If the fiber optic connection is already activated (the previous tenant used fiber), it takes 5-10 days. If the connection isn’t activated or needs rewiring, it can take 3-6 weeks. So order broadband as soon as you sign the contract.

Is EDF mandatory? Can I choose another electricity company?

You have complete freedom to choose. EDF has not had a monopoly since 2007. You can choose any company like TotalEnergies, Engie, OHM, Mint, Vattenfall, Alpiq, etc. The electricity grid (cables) is 95% owned by Enedis, which handles power outages and repairs, regardless of which supplier you choose.

What if the previous tenant didn’t cancel EDF?

Don’t panic. When you open a new contract at the same address, EDF will automatically close the old contract and activate yours. Any overcharges incurred by the previous tenant are their responsibility.

Can I do the inspection by myself?

No. The inspection must be conducted with both parties present (contradictoire) — the landlord (or agent) + tenant must sign together. An inspection report signed by only one party has no legal validity, and you will be the one to suffer the consequences. If the landlord can’t come, send a registered letter to request a time.

I just arrived in France and don’t have a French bank statement. Will EDF accept my contract?

They will accept foreign IBANs from SEPA countries (Germany, Spain, Portugal, Italy, etc.). For countries outside the SEPA area (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Senegal, Vietnam, China, etc.), you must have a French local IBAN. First, open an account with BoursoBank, Revolut, or N26 (online, foreigners can open with a passport), then sign with EDF. BoursoBank and Revolut can set up accounts in 48-72 hours.