Are things complicated in France?

Question

I heard that, in France, renting an appartment, or buying a car, can be an administrative nightmare.

Do you remember the scene from L'auberge Espagnole, where the guy keeps going from an office to another, in order to finish his student exchange papers? Are things that complicated in France?

Answer 1

France has one of the largest bureaucracies in the world populated by the most obnoxious, officious and petty government employees (a breed that is noxious in any country) found anywhere.

French government is horrendously intrusive and almost every aspect of business or property ownership is wrapped in layer upon layer of rules and regulations so detailed and arcane as to be impenetrable by anyone without legal training.

NB: It is instructive that a poll of French college students revealed that the most aspired to be government officials. Not entrepreneurs, or business men or teachers or anything even remotely productive but bureaucrats. This demonstrates the position that these parasites have in France and the power they wield over the productive citizen.

Answer 2

Often, the answer is yes.

You can plan and get lucky - unfortunately you have control over only one of these elements.

My hubby is an EU citizen, so things *should* be easier for him - but we had a snafu because to rent an apartment you need a French bank account, and to get a French bank account you need a permanent French address. Also, to get a phone you need a bank account but to get a bank account you need a utility bill (for instance, a phone bill.)

I wrote about it here (if you're interested):

http://exoticmundane.blogspot.com/2007/0...

Answer 3

To buy a car you go to a car dealer, pay, and then you go to have your car registered so you can have your car matriculation. It took me an hour wait at the office. Then you order the plates at your garage and have them installed.  

To rent an apartment you don't need to register anything, just warn the thieves at the tax office of your new address so they can tax you. You can do it by post.

However, when you are a foreigner to get the equivalent of your green card can be a pain in the backside

Answer 4

The other way you can buy a car  is this: you go to  a dealer. Pay the money, leave an ID card or some other document. Then you go back the next day and the dealer has done all the administrative work and installed the new number plates.

The dealers have a separate hatch at the administrative centre and so don't have to wait in line.

The way the previous guy bough his car was when you buy from a private seller.

I can't remember what it was like to rent an appartment. If you go to an agency they want lots of proof that you are solvent.

Answer 5

Lots of bureaucracy, red tape, form-filling nightmares, you name it...