March 9th, 2022 / µ

Two Years And Counting

In Life, You Lose Nonstop – youth, looks, money, friends, illusions. But sometimes, you win in court.

After two years of paperwork and courtrooms, the French courts sided with me. My former landlord in Paris should pay me back ALL of my deposit from 2019.

On the 28. of January this year, 2022, a French court told my former landlord of 2019 in Paris to return my full security deposit with two years of interest. This decision is a step in the right direction and a way to put part of my 9 Weeks in hell (!) behind me.

Not that the apartment itself was hell. It was, however, very flawed. But most payable apartments in metropolises are.

The Apartment

I had chosen this apartment due to its location, which is superb. The apartment itself had looked so cute online and perfect for me and my (now sadly deceased) dog. The landlord seemed like a nice guy. Everything was great for what I was in Paris to do.

The apartment I had rented did not resemble what I had rented and paid for online. But that’s a big-city rental on a budget for you. And I am sure, if the situation as a whole had not been a nightmare, I had stayed there for years. The location was unbeatable, the apartment had a terrace, and a bit of paint and a lot of fresh air would have fixed the nasty scent.

No, it wasn't the softening bricks, the mold, the faulty wires, nor the stench of cat urine when the place was damp that made me go apartment hunting just weeks after arrival. It was the situation as a whole that turned very ugly right after I had moved in.

État des lieux d'entrée & État des lieux de sortie

I had never rented with the rental agency that managed this apartment before, but they seemed friendly and very professional. But when troubles arose, they did not help, despite the substantial initial fee and the following monthly fees. It was frustrating.

I had paid the security deposit directly to the agency. But when it came down to having it back, it was between the landlord and me.

Another thing that was not the rental agency’s but solely my problem was the état des lieux d'entree. État des lieux d'entree translates something like: The state/condition of the place upon entry.

An état des lieux d'entree is a document you fill in and sign with your landlord or representative when you move into a rental. Here you note down everything - faults, deficiencies, what furniture and kitchen equipment there is, the conditions of same, e.g., 15 forks, minor scratch on the bathroom mirror and so on. The state of the apartment when you arrive is then agreed upon and signed by both parties.

When you leave the apartment again, you fill in and sign a similar document, the état des lieux de sortie (The state/condition of the place upon departure). Then you can compare the two docs, and this way, you can easily access what has been broken, added, and so on. It is a good deal for both tenant and landlord. Sometimes it is the same document, where you note the condition for both entry and departure. (Remember to keep your copy safe if you rent an apartment in Paris. You will need it when you move out).

You need an état des lieux de sortie to cancel your insurance policy

However, this état des lieux d'entree was not done upon arrival, nor in the following weeks. And when I vacated the apartment six weeks later, no one showed up to sign an état des lieux de sortie or sign for the keys. I was texted to leave the keys on the kitchen table and close the door on my way out.

Not having an état des lieux de sortie left me in a situation with my insurance company. They needed a signed état des lieux de sortie to cancel my insurance. They were, however, very friendly and corporative. And in the end, after nine months of communication, I could cancel the insurance policy.

And now, after two years, I will get all of my deposit back. Or at least the court has told the landlord to pay it back. But the truth is that all of the above was not why I left this apartment so quickly - an apartment and rental contract that had cost me more than 4000 € to secure, to begin with.

One chapter closed. The rest is still to come.

Leaving the ghoulish nightmare aside that evolved within days in September 2019 in Rue ***** in the 5th arrondissement (Quartier Val-de-Grâce), in Paris, I am happy that the French court and judge sided with me, and I might get my money back. So, if not anything else, I can close this monetary chapter of my 9 Weeks in Hell. The rest is still to come.

Thanks for reading! I hope you found it valuable and worth your time! Until next time, remember to get your facts straight and that whatever good times you have will never come back as bad times,