Introduction
You’ve just signed a lease in France and the list of tasks is starting to look like a job application: EDF, internet box, water, home insurance, address change with CAF, at the prefecture, at the bank, with social security… For newcomers — whether they arrive from Casablanca, Hanoi, Dakar, Lisbon, Bogotá, or Bucharest — the challenge isn’t the number of steps, but the sequence and hidden timelines. An internet box ordered too late means a month of sharing a connection. An EDF meter not registered in your name results in a cutoff on the 5th of the month. An APL not transferred to CAF within 30 days means three months of full rent.
This guide is designed for those making their first French move or changing cities within the country. All prices are verified as of the first quarter of 2026, and the timelines reflect what actually happens, not what customer service claims.
Before Moving In: 3 Weeks to 15 Days Before
This is the window where everything gets prepared. If you wait until D-Day, you’ll incur extra costs.
- EDF Meter: open the contract 15 days before moving in at edf.fr or by phone (3004). You need the PDL number (delivery point) or PRM, visible on the Linky meter or on the previous tenant's old bill. If you don’t have the PDL, EDF can find it using your address. Allow 2 to 5 business days for the service to be activated. Without technical intervention, it’s free; with on-site intervention, it’s €30.37 standard or €70.40 express.
- Choosing the EDF Tariff: the regulated Blue Tariff is the base (approx. €0.2516/kWh including tax on base option, 6 kVA, early 2026). The Off-Peak Hours option is worth it if you do laundry at night or charge an electric vehicle. Tempo is interesting if you can shift your consumption on red days (22 days a year): real savings between €150 and €400/year for a well-organized T2. Competitors — TotalEnergies, OHM Énergie, Mint, Engie — offer discounts of 5 to 12% on the kWh price. Check the National Energy Mediator's comparator (energie-info.fr) before signing.
- Water Meter: the distributor depends on your municipality, not your choice. In Paris, it’s Eau de Paris. In Lyon, Eau du Grand Lyon. In Marseille, SEM (Société des Eaux de Marseille). Elsewhere, Veolia, Suez, or SAUR. A quick call to the property manager or the previous tenant is enough to identify the right one. Expect €30 for service activation.
- Internet Box: order 3 to 4 weeks before moving in. This is the actual timeframe for an Orange/SFR/Free technician to come if the socket isn’t already active. 2026 entry-level prices: Free Pop fiber €29.99/month for the first year, Bouygues B&You fiber €23.99, Sosh (Orange) fiber €24.99, RED by SFR fiber €24.99. "Premium" plans like Orange Livebox, SFR Power, Bouygues Bbox UltYm run at €40-50/month — useful only if you work from home with heavy video calls or want integrated TV.
- Cancellation of the Old Provider (if you were already in France): send a registered letter with acknowledgment of receipt (RAR), reason "moving". This is the magic reason: it avoids early cancellation fees even if you are under contract. Always keep proof.
The Entry Inventory: The Most Underestimated Step
Let’s be clear: 80% of security deposit disputes come from a poorly done entry inventory. The landlord compares the entry condition to the exit condition. Any defect not noted at entry will be charged to you upon exit.
On the day of key handover:
- Take at least 50 photos, dated (the timestamp on your phone is valid). Every room, every wall, every outlet, the floor, the ceiling, the faucet, the oven, the fridge, the shutters.
- Note everything: rust on the radiator, peeling paint, broken outlet, moldy shower seal, window that won’t close, leaking toilet, torn baseboard. Ask to have it written in the inventory. If the agent refuses, write it yourself in the margin before signing.
- Record the EDF, gas, and water meters that day. Photo and exact number.
- If something bothers you later (musty smell, neighbor noise, leak), you have 10 days to send a registered letter (RAR) to the landlord requesting an amendment to the inventory. After that, you are bound.
This is where the experiences of the diasporas converge: Karim, a Tunisian engineer who arrived in Lyon in 2024, lost €1,100 of his deposit because he didn’t note the mold under the sink. Mei-Lin, a Chinese student in the 13th arrondissement of Paris, got her full deposit back in 2025 thanks to 87 photos archived in Google Photos. Mamadou, a Senegalese nurse in Saint-Denis, always recommends being accompanied by a French friend who knows the procedure — social pressure reduces abuse.
Administrative Procedures: The 30-Day Window
Once settled, you have about a month to not lose your rights:
- CAF: declare your change of address on caf.fr within 30 days. If you receive APL, the calculation is updated. Forgetting this means APL is suspended, sometimes for 2-3 months while the regularization is processed.
- Prefecture / Residence Permit: for most permits, it’s no longer mandatory to report an intra-France move, but update your address on ANEF (administration-etrangers-en-france.interieur.gouv.fr) before any renewal. Without an updated address, the permit is sent to the old one.
- Social Security (Ameli): change of address in your ameli.fr account. Important for the Vitale card and reimbursements.
- Bank: change of address at the branch or online. Most banks (BNP, SG, BoursoBank, Revolut, N26) accept a digital proof (recent EDF bill).
- Town Hall: not mandatory, but useful. Request a certificate of residence or make a residence attestation. Handy for later (school registration, consular procedures).
- La Poste: mail forwarding service for 6 or 12 months. €35 for 6 months national, €65 for 12 months. Essential if you are still expecting mail at the old address (taxes, bank, social security).
Actual Costs of the Physical Move
The item that is always underestimated. Here are some concrete scenarios, prices for 2026:
- Studio Paris → Lyon, 15 m³: truck rental from Drivy or Citiz for the day, €80 to €130 + fuel (Paris-Lyon highway ~€85). If you have a license and a friend to help, it’s the all-inclusive option at €250.
- T2 Marseille → Toulouse with professional movers: €800 to €1,500 depending on distance and floor. Compare on DeMenageur.com, Movinga, Demeco.
- Solidarity Movers: in Paris and major cities, Emmaüs Coup de Main or Compagnons Bâtisseurs charge €0 to €200 to help a low-income person. Waiting times: 2-6 weeks.
- Temporary Storage: if there’s a gap between two leases, €50 to €120/month at Homebox, Une Pièce en Plus, Costockage. Often cheaper in the suburbs than in the city center.
The Role of Diasporas in Moving
Beyond prices, there’s community resourcefulness. WhatsApp and Facebook diaspora groups are a layer that professional services overlook.
- In Marseille, the groups "Moroccans of Marseille — mutual aid" regularly organize moving Sundays: 4-5 cousins, a rented Renault Master van for €90, and everyone ends up around a tajine. This is the norm in the Bricomarché neighborhood and La Calade.
- In Paris 13th, the Vietnamese and Chinese communities revolve around the temple on Avenue d'Ivry and the Tang Frères market. Asking in the right WeChat group (微信群) often finds a Cantonese transporter with a 12 m³ truck for €60/hour, paid in cash.
- In Champigny-sur-Marne, nicknamed "little Lisbon" by the Portuguese, Lusophone associations (Cap Magellan, Portuguese Association of Champigny) signal community vans and available hands on weekends, often for free in exchange for a meal.
- In Saint-Denis and Sevran, Malian, Senegalese, and Ivorian groups (notably through associations from the grand Marché de Château Rouge) organize mutual aid chains where everyone helps each other in turn.
- In Lyon Guillotière, the Algerian, Turkish, and Armenian communities pool the services of a local transporter from the neighborhood who offers informal rates significantly lower than professionals.
The common code: ask politely, bring food, return the favor later to someone else. It’s a social capital worth as much as the Demeco quote.
In Summary
- Internet box: order 3-4 weeks in advance, Free and Bouygues at €24-30/month are sufficient
- EDF: 15 days in advance, compare Blue Tariff vs competitors on energie-info.fr
- Inventory: at least 50 photos, everything noted or contested within 10 days
- CAF: change of address within 30 days, otherwise APL suspended
- Cancellation of old provider: reason "moving" = no fees
- Mail forwarding La Poste: €35 / 6 months to not miss anything
- Ask your diaspora: truck + hands = savings of €500-1,000
On Pionra
On Pionra, diaspora communities share their moving tips, contacts for community transporters, and alert about problematic real estate agencies by city. Find your community at /fr/communautes/ma, /fr/communautes/cn, /fr/communautes/sn, /fr/communautes/pt, and the directory of providers at /fr/annuaire?category=epicerie.
FAQ
How long does it really take to get internet in a new apartment in France?
If the fiber socket is already active (as in an apartment where the previous tenant had fiber), count 5 to 10 days. If the socket isn’t active or if a connection is needed, count 3 to 6 weeks. That’s why we order as soon as the lease is signed.
Is EDF mandatory or can I choose another provider?
You are completely free. EDF has not had a monopoly since 2007. You can sign with TotalEnergies, Engie, OHM, Mint, Vattenfall, Alpiq or any other provider. The network (the cables) still belongs to Enedis for 95% of the territory — they are the ones who intervene in case of a breakdown, regardless of your provider.
What if the previous tenant didn’t cancel their EDF contract?
No worries. When you open your contract at the same address, EDF automatically cuts the old one and activates yours. The previous tenant continues to be billed until your arrival date; that’s their problem.
Can I do the inventory without the landlord if I’m in a hurry?
No. The inventory must be contradictory, meaning it must be signed in the presence of both parties (landlord or their agent + tenant). Without signatures from both, the inventory has no legal value and you will lose out upon exit. If the landlord is unavailable, demand a date by registered letter (RAR).
I’m arriving from abroad without a French bank statement: will EDF accept my contract?
Yes. EDF accepts foreign SEPA bank details (Germany, Spain, Portugal, Italy, etc.). For countries outside SEPA (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Senegal, Vietnam, China, etc.), you need French bank details. First, open an account with BoursoBank, Revolut, or N26 (online, accessible to foreigners with a passport), then subscribe to EDF. Account opened in 48-72 hours for BoursoBank and Revolut.
