If you’re planning a move to France in late summer, you’re asking exactly the right question.
On paper, August and September look convenient: summer flexibility, school terms restarting, and a natural “new chapter” moment. In reality, seasonality plays a major role in renting in France, and those two months can be some of the trickiest for securing a genuine long-term rental, especially as a foreigner.
That doesn’t mean it’s impossible. But it does mean you need to understand how the French rental calendar actually works, and plan accordingly.
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The short answer: Yes, summer makes it harder
For most expats, finding a long-term rental in France is noticeably harder if you are searching or trying to move in between June and August, with August being the most challenging month of all.
September can be easier, but only if the groundwork was done earlier.
Why? Because France doesn’t “slow down” in August. It stops.
Why August is the hardest month to rent in France
France goes on holiday
August is peak holiday season. Entire offices shut down. Estate agents take annual leave. Property owners disappear.
In practice, this means:
- Slower or no responses to enquiries
- Fewer viewings being organised
- Applications taking much longer to be reviewed
- Lease signings and move-ins being postponed
Even motivated landlords may simply not be reachable.
Landlords prioritise short-term summer income
In many desirable areas, especially those affected by seasonality, a landlord can earn more from one or two summer holiday rentals than from several months of a long-term lease.
As a result:
- Properties that are “normally” long-term are temporarily withheld
- Listings advertised in summer are often seasonal lets, not true long-term leases
- Some landlords wait until September before committing to a year-round tenant
This is particularly common in:
- Coastal regions
- Provence and the south
- Tourist countryside areas
September demand is decided earlier than you think
September feels like a fresh start, but most September 1st long-term rentals are agreed in June or early July, not in August.
By the time August arrives:
- Students have already secured housing
- Employees relocating for work are already placed
- The best-priced, well-located properties are gone
What remains is often more competitive, more expensive, or less flexible.
> You might be interested in this article: When is the best time to rent an apartment in Nice?
What this means in practice for expats
If you are renting in France as a foreigner, especially without a French CDI, French payslips, or a local guarantor, summer compounds the difficulty.
Here’s what we typically see in August and early September:
- Fewer genuine long-term listings available for immediate move-in
- Ads that look long-term but turn out to be capped at 3–6 months
- Higher effective rents where landlords agree to “sacrifice” summer income
- Stronger scrutiny of rental dossiers
- Less flexibility on start dates, conditions, or exceptions
In tight markets, Paris, major cities, university towns, and coastal hotspots, competition is intense.
Is September better than August?
Yes, but with an important caveat.
September is better for moving in, but not necessarily for starting your search.
If you begin your rental search in late August, you are often already behind the curve. The best strategy is to:
- Prepare and apply before August
- Or plan to secure a September or October lease while using temporary housing
Smart ways to time your long-term rental search
Separate arrival from long-term move-in
One of the most effective strategies is to decouple your arrival from your long-term lease.
Instead of trying to move straight into a long-term rental in August:
- Use a short-term solution (Airbnb, apart-hotel, gîte, house-sit)
- Stay 1–4 weeks
- Attend viewings, finalise paperwork, and secure a September/October start
This removes time pressure and gives you leverage.
Aim for a September or October lease start
Landlords are far more open to long-term tenants once summer income is over.
From mid-September onward:
- More listings reappear
- Owners are more responsive
- Negotiations become more realistic
- Agencies are fully operational again
October is often one of the most balanced months for renting in France.
Adjust location expectations if you must move in Summer
If August is your only option, geography matters.
Less touristic inland towns and smaller cities:
- Rely less on summer holiday income
- Are more open to year-round tenants
- Have slightly less competition
Big tourist destinations and coastal hotspots are the hardest places to secure a long-term let in summer.
Prepare an exceptionally strong rental dossier
Summer rentals leave no room for “almost ready”.
Your dossier should be:
- Complete
- Clear
- Translated where appropriate
- Professionally presented
This is especially important if you are:
- Renting in France as an expat
- Newly arrived
- Without French employment history
In peak season, landlords choose the lowest-risk file, not the nicest story.
Should you avoid August and September altogether?
> You might be interested in this article: Renting in France: What you need to know
Not necessarily, but you should be strategic.
- Avoid August for starting a search if you can
- Plan September move-ins earlier than you think
- Use temporary housing as a buffer
- Expect more friction, not less, in summer
One reality many newcomers discover too late is that renting long-term in France can be more complicated than buying. You must find the property, be approved by the landlord, and align timing, often all while abroad.
Good timing reduces stress more than almost any other factor.
Final notes: Timing matters more than people expect
If you’re flexible, the path of least resistance is clear:
- Search in late spring or early summer
- Secure a lease for September or October
- Avoid forcing an August move-in
If you’re not flexible, success is still possible, but it requires stronger preparation, realistic expectations, and often a temporary landing solution.
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