Discover the latest 2025 France’s real estate trends: Flatshare rents stay steady, but rising applications and mandatory guarantors reflect a competitive market. Learn how students and young professionals are navigating limited housing supply, according to the Oqoro barometer.
France Flatshare Market 2025: Stable Rents Hide Soaring Demand and the Rise of Guarantors
Despite France’s ongoing rental crisis, flatsharing (colocation) is increasingly becoming a gateway to housing for students and young professionals. The newly released Oqoro 2025 barometer provides a detailed look into current flatshare market trends, based on analysis of more than 120,000 room listings and 200,000 applications. Here’s what’s shaping the landscape in 2025:
Average Rents Stable—but Local Disparities Remain Sharp
- The average monthly rent for a room in a shared flat is €494, up only 0.4% in a year.
- Paris remains the priciest city at €749/month per room.
- Cities like Rennes (-4.6%), Nantes (-4.5%), and Grenoble (-2.6%) saw rents drop.
- Annemasse experienced an increase of +4.7%, now averaging €538/month.
- Strong disparities reflect local market dynamics—simple supply and demand imbalances drive substantial differences between cities.
Demand Reaches New Heights: Applications Surging
- There’s now an average of 7.6 applications per available room, up 9.3% since last year.
- Paris leads with 12.6 applications per room; Lyon follows at 11.5.
- The rush peaks between July and September, when more than half of flatshare entries take place as students and young professionals scramble for housing before the new academic year.
Guarantors: Now Essential for Acceptance
- 80% of flatshare applicants provide a guarantor—a significant leap from 69% in 2024.
- Guarantors are now nearly mandatory, whether via family, the Visale scheme, or private providers like Garantme.
- Applicants without a strong guarantor struggle to compete, reinforcing social inequalities and making it even harder for some to secure housing.
Who’s Sharing? Not Just Students Anymore
- Average applicant age: 26 years
- Breakdown: 52% students, 43% young professionals, and a growing minority of retirees (2.3%).
- Flatsharing, once dominated by younger demographics, is increasingly appealing to diverse groups including seniors seeking affordable, communal living.
Final Takeaway: Flatsharing—A Vital Solution Amid Scarcity
In 2025, flatsharing stands out as a vital pathway to housing for France’s youth and urban workforce. While rents remain relatively stable, soaring demand, local disparities, and the necessity for guarantors make the search for a room increasingly competitive. Flexibility and preparedness—especially securing a guarantor—are key for hopeful tenants.
