The real estate market is becoming increasingly complex in many cities. Cities that exemplify this situation include Paris, Rennes, Nice, Madrid, Barcelona, and Palma de Mallorca. Renting in Europe has definitely become a difficult task, especially for those who face job insecurity or do not have a permanent contract. Landlords impose certain complex conditions, such as bank guarantees. Given the uncertainty of this situation, there has been a tendency to pretend emotional stability as if they were a couple. Le Figaro has closely followed the phenomenon linked to this latter fact, also due to the growth of Airbnb, which is jeopardizing the supply and demand of housing. Although rental legislation, together with housing policy, is attempting to resolve this situation, management is complex. Read on to learn about the unstable solution.
Get to know the brand new tactic for getting an apartment
Simlating to be in a relationship to get the change to get an apartment. That’s the recent plan people are using to get past landlords’ progressively severe filters. Every once in a while they’re a real couple, sometimes not. However, for those who’ve made their best, the strategy seems to go on.
“You just hold your friend’s hand during the viewing and it works,” explains Agathe, a 28-year-old interviewed by Le Figaro, who, after two months of not suceed apartment serach in Rennes, France, with her best friend, maed the decision to pretend to be in a relationship.
“As soon as we started saying we were a couple, we found a place within two weeks,” she says.
The tactic is turning increasingly usual in cities where demand vastly outstrips supply – places such as Paris, Nice and Rennes in France. With the obligation of the market, the emerge in short-term tourist rentals like Airbnb, and the exclusionary factor many landlords apply, false emotional stability can be the key between getting an apartment or not.
Faking it to beat the housing system
This increasing practice show a particularly harsh truth for those already living with inconstancy of any type. In other European cities like Madrid, Barcelona and Palma, landlords usually are requiring permanent contracts with some years of history, security deposits worth up to two months’ rent, in addition guarantees or bank-backed guarantors, and proof of income well over the monthly rent.
It’s not common for renters to be asked for their previous three payslips, full employment backguard and even comments from previous landlords. In many situaion, getting two people with already incomes on the lease is seen as a major plus – two paychecks are more reassuring than one.
Landlords vs the laws
Several laws have been present to grant renters recent safeguards, line automatic contract renewals and stronger protections against eviction.
Still, the laws haven’t always curbed landlords’ disposition to demand harsh conditions. At the same time they may no longer be able to increase rents with no preocupation in some area , they still get to selecttheir tenants. And that not includes a wide variety of people – young workers with no permanent contracts, freelancers, single-parent families, or solo renters unable to supply a financially secure guarantor. The law defends those already in the system, but doesn’t always aims those whose purpose is to break in.
So it’s no surprise to see tricks such as this one. In a economical situation that rewards the illusion of stability, simulating to be a couple turns out to be a dubious but effective way in.
Housing quality standards
In 2025, an EU directive will come into force establishing minimum habitability requirements, including:
- access to drinking water
- adequate heating
- absence of mold and structural defects
- compliance with safety standards
In countries such as Germany and Denmark, from 2023 onwards, it will not be permitted to rent or sell homes with an energy rating lower than F or G unless they are renovated beforehand.