“It’s really a pain”: finding your first place to live in Montpellier in September remains a huge challenge

Nolan, accompagné de Lorraine doit faire la deuxième année de son Master à Montpellier.

Le Département de l’Hérault et le Crij Occitanie ont organisé ce mercredi 4 septembre la 12e édition de "Trouver mon premier appart" à l’Espace jeunes de Pierresvives. Destiné à ceux qui n'ont rien trouvé cet été… 

It is becoming increasingly difficult to find accommodation in Montpellier. Especially for young people. A city known for being particularly under pressure, with very high rents, the 12th edition of the housing day organized in Pierrevives and entitled “Finding my first apartment” spoke volumes, given its turnout. “We see more and more people every year. This event has become a bit of a catch-up solution", underlines a project manager from the Hérault Department who is organizing this afternoon full of hope for many young people with the Crij Occitanie.

"Landlords are afraid of young people"

Among the researchers, Nelcy, 23, staying with a friend in Montpellier where she is doing community service at the Léo Lagrange federation. "I'm not on the street, but it's small and I'd like to have a place of my own", assures the young girl who earns 600 euros per month. She is accompanied by her tutor, Maëlle, who recognizes that “it's really hard to find accommodation in Montpellier. With 600 euros, you can't give any guarantees to a landlord. If someone wants to do a civic service, I advise them not to come and do it in Montpellier, it's too expensive”, assures the professional. Nelcy went around the different stands to look for “information, to know my rights” and hopes to obtain a small apartment through Habitat jeunes. But for now, she learned that she was still on the waiting list to “finally be at home”. Even though she knows that her situation will improve “once I have a permanent job”.

Kathleen is 21 years old. She has a permanent contract. She works at Carrefour Saint-Clément and has been looking for a 3-room apartment for a year: “We've been struggling for a year”, she corrects herself. Despite her salary and that of her partner, a delivery man for Amazon, there's no way we can find a place to live, despite a maximum budget of 850 euros per month: “I think landlords are afraid of young people. That we can't pay, that we party too much”, she believes. For now, the young couple lives with Kathleen's mother in the Hauts-de-Massane neighborhood: “It's safe, we're not on the street, but we'd really prefer to be at home”, she whispers.

More people than last year

Nolan, 23, is in the queue with his girlfriend Lorraine, waiting for a small pied-à-terre in Montpellier. He is a student and has an apartment in Nîmes. But for the second year of his Master's in Teaching, Education and Training, the future teacher must do it in the Hérault capital. Budget-wise, he has 300 euros that would be covered by his scholarship: “I was only able to apply to the Crous very late because I didn't have my scholarship validated until July”. Latecomer, Nolan hopes for a withdrawal but will, in the meantime, make the round trips from Nîmes to follow his training.

There are as many cases as there are people present on this half-day. Last year, 70 files were studied to find a solution in a complicated period. This year, there will be many more. A sign that housing for young people remains a big problem in Montpellier.

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