You’ve signed your lease, collected the keys, and stepped into your new Parisian apartment. The excitement is real, but so is the to-do list. Before you can settle in properly, you’ll need to set up electricity, arrange internet, and sort out the one thing most expats don’t realize is mandatory: home insurance.
The good news? None of this is complicated once you know how the system works. This guide walks you through each step, with realistic timelines, costs, and the English-friendly resources that make the process much smoother.
Your new Paris apartment — now let’s get it set up.
What’s Included in Your Rent (And What’s Not)
Before you start calling providers, check your lease carefully. The term charges comprises (charges included) typically covers cold water, garbage collection, and maintenance of common areas. But electricity, gas, internet, and home insurance are almost always your responsibility.
In older Parisian buildings, heating may be collective (chauffage collectif), meaning it’s included in your charges. In newer or renovated apartments, you’ll likely have individual electric heating which means higher electricity bills in winter.
When in doubt, ask your landlord or property manager exactly what’s included before you move in.
Related: What it costs to rent in Paris: rent, fees, and hidden costs
Home Insurance (Assurance Habitation) — Your First Priority
Here’s something that catches many international renters off guard: home insurance is legally required in France. You cannot finalize your lease, and in most cases, you won’t even get the keys without providing proof of coverage.
Your landlord will ask for an attestation d’assurance habitation, which is simply a certificate from your insurer confirming your policy is active. This document needs to be renewed and sent to your landlord every year.
What Does Renter’s Insurance Cover?
The legal minimum is called risques locatifs (rental risks), which covers damage you might cause to the property:
- Fire damage, whether from a kitchen accident or faulty wiring
- Water damage, leaks, flooding, burst pipes (one of the most common claims in France)
- Explosions, typically from gas boiler malfunctions
Most tenants opt for a more comprehensive policy called assurance multirisques habitation, which adds protection for your personal belongings, theft, and civil liability (if your leak damages your neighbor’s ceiling, for example).
How Much Does It Cost?
For a typical Parisian studio or one-bedroom apartment, expect to pay between €100 and €200 per year. Prices vary based on the size of your apartment, its location, and the level of coverage you choose.
Where to Get Insured
Several insurers offer English-language support and online sign-up, which is particularly helpful when you’re new to France:
- Luko — fully digital, English-friendly interface
- Lovys — app-based insurance with flexible coverage
- AXA — traditional insurer with English customer service
- MAIF / MACIF — French mutuals with competitive rates (French-language only)
You can also use comparison sites like LeLynx to compare quotes, though most are in French.
Don’t wait until move-in day to sort out insurance. Start the process at least a week before you collect your keys.
Electricity: Getting the Lights On
Electricity in France is managed by the national grid operator Enedis, but you choose your own supplier. The historic provider is EDF (Électricité de France), though dozens of alternatives now exist.
How to Set Up Your Electricity Contract
The process is straightforward:
- Find your meter number (PDL or PRM) — This 14-digit number identifies your electricity meter. Ask your landlord, check the previous tenant’s bill, or look on the meter itself.
- Choose a provider — EDF offers a regulated tariff (Tarif Bleu), but competitors like TotalEnergies, Engie, or Octopus Energy often have lower rates.
- Contact the provider — You’ll need your address, move-in date, PDL number, and a French IBAN for direct debit payments.
- Activation — If your apartment has a Linky smart meter (most Paris apartments do), activation can happen remotely within hours. Without a smart meter, you may need a technician visit, which can take up to 10 working days.
English-Speaking Support
EDF offers dedicated English-language customer service at 09 69 36 63 83. You can also use Selectra’s English helpline (09 87 67 37 93) to compare providers and sign up over the phone.
What Will It Cost?
For a small Parisian apartment (studio or one-bedroom) with electric heating, expect monthly bills between €40 and €80, depending on the season and your usage. Apartments with gas heating will have lower electricity bills but separate gas costs.
The Linky smart meter — installed in most Paris apartments, it allows remote activation.
Gas: Do You Actually Need It?
Many Parisian apartments — especially modern or renovated ones — are fully electric and don’t use gas at all. Before signing up with a gas provider, check whether your apartment actually has a gas connection.
If your building does have mains gas (gaz de ville), you’ll typically use it for heating, hot water, or cooking. The main provider is Engie (formerly GDF), though EDF and other suppliers also offer gas contracts.
Setting Up Gas
The process mirrors electricity:
- Find your PCE number (Point de Comptage et d’Estimation) — the gas equivalent of the PDL
- Contact your chosen provider with your address, move-in date, and bank details
- Schedule activation — modern Gazpar smart meters allow remote activation; older meters require a technician visit
Many providers offer bundled electricity + gas deals, which can simplify billing and sometimes save money. Compare options before committing.
Water: Usually Handled by Your Landlord
Good news: in most Parisian apartments, water is included in your charges. The building has a single meter, and costs are split among tenants as part of the monthly charges you pay alongside rent.
If your apartment has an individual water meter (less common), you’ll need to contact the local provider, usually Eau de Paris for the city, to transfer the account into your name.
Either way, confirm the arrangement with your landlord before move-in so there are no surprises.
Internet: Getting Connected
France has excellent internet infrastructure, and most of Paris is covered by fiber optic (la fibre). The four major providers are Orange, Free, SFR, and Bouygues Telecom.
Fiber vs. ADSL
First, check what’s available at your address. You can verify fiber eligibility on any provider’s website by entering your address. Fiber offers speeds from 300 Mbps up to 8 Gbps which is more than enough for streaming, video calls, and remote work. ADSL (the older copper-line technology) is slower but still available as a fallback in buildings not yet connected to fiber.
Choosing a Provider
For expats, flexibility often matters more than the absolute cheapest deal. Here’s what to consider:
| Provider | Starting Price | Contract | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sosh (Orange) | ~€21/month | No commitment | Orange network quality, online-only support |
| RED by SFR | ~€21/month | No commitment | Budget-friendly, app-based support |
| Free | ~€24/month | No commitment | Great value, limited customer service |
| Orange | ~€33/month | 12 months | English phone support, physical stores |
| Bouygues | ~€25/month | 12 months | Good speeds, price increases after year one |
Pro tip: No-commitment plans (sans engagement) from Sosh, RED, or Free are ideal if you’re not sure how long you’ll stay. You can cancel anytime without penalty — though there’s usually a fixed termination fee around €50.
Installation Timeline
Once you’ve signed up, expect 1 to 2 weeks before your internet is active. Fiber installation requires a technician visit to connect the optical terminal in your apartment. ADSL can sometimes be activated remotely if the line is already set up.
What to Do While You Wait
You’ll likely be without home WiFi for your first week or two. Here’s how to stay connected:
- Get a French SIM with generous data — Providers like Free Mobile offer plans with 150GB+ of data for under €20/month, perfect for tethering
- Use a 4G/5G home router — Some providers offer plug-and-play boxes that work immediately via mobile network
- Work from cafés — Many Parisian cafés have decent WiFi, and coworking spaces offer day passes
Documents You’ll Need
To sign up for internet service, have these ready:
- Proof of address (your signed lease works)
- French IBAN for direct debit (some providers accept SEPA accounts from other EU countries)
- ID (passport or residence permit)
Mobile Phone Plans
While not strictly a “utility,” having a French mobile number makes everything easier — from two-factor authentication to scheduling deliveries.
France has some of the cheapest mobile plans in Europe. For most expats, a €10–15/month plan with unlimited calls, texts, and plenty of data is more than enough. Popular options include:
- Free Mobile — €19.99/month for unlimited everything (or €2/month for a basic plan)
- RED by SFR — Flexible data options starting around €10/month
- B&You (Bouygues) — Similar pricing, no commitment
- Sosh (Orange) — Slightly pricier but uses Orange’s reliable network
All of these are available without long-term contracts, and you can sign up online or in-store with just your passport and a French bank account (or sometimes a foreign SEPA account).
How Flatigo Can Help
Setting up utilities is one of those tasks that’s simple once you’ve done it — but can feel overwhelming when everything is new and in French.
At Flatigo, we help international clients navigate not just the apartment search, but also the administrative steps that come after. From recommending English-friendly insurance providers to explaining your electricity bill, we’re here to make your transition to Paris as smooth as possible.
If you’re relocating to Paris and want expert support from apartment hunting through move-in day and beyond, explore our settling-in services or get in touch. We’d love to help you settle in.
Planning your move? Read our complete guide: Moving to Paris from the US: The Ultimate Guide for American Expats
