Requests for housing in exchange for services in Paris

How does a housing for services request work?

On this page the listing runs the other way round: it is not the host describing a room, it is the candidate introducing themselves. Each request states who they are, the services they offer, their actual time slots and the length of stay they are looking for in Paris or Île-de-France. The principle stays the same: no rent, a room granted in return for regular help set down in black and white before moving in.

What do candidates offer in their requests?

• School runs, supervised homework and evening babysitting
• Company for an elderly person and escorting them to appointments
• Upkeep of the home, ironing, meal preparation
• A reassuring presence in the evening or overnight
• Private lessons, foreign-language conversation, computer help
• Errands, paperwork, pet-sitting, small DIY jobs

Hosts: how to choose among the requests?

Read the availability before the cover letter: an enthusiastic candidate who is away at the very hours you need help serves no one. Shortlist two or three profiles whose timetable overlaps yours, call them, then meet your finalists somewhere neutral in the neighbourhood. Before the move-in, put the agreement in writing: the duties entrusted, the weekly ceiling on hours, the length of the stay and the exit terms. Those four points, dated and signed by both hands, prevent most misunderstandings.

Candidates: how to write a request that gets replies?

Introduce yourself in three blocks: who you are (studies, work, pace of life), what you offer (precise duties and numbered slots), what you seek (neighbourhoods, duration, type of room). A listing that reads "eight hours a week, Tuesday and Thursday evenings, Saturday morning" holds attention far better than a list of qualities. Posting is free and takes minutes; interested hosts then contact you directly, with no middleman. Our detailed advice is gathered on the housing for services requests in Paris page.

A frame to set before moving in

This information is general and is not legal advice. Housing for services rests on a freely concluded civil agreement, not on a residential lease: the person housed does not enjoy a tenant’s protections, and the help provided must not stand in for concealed employment, on pain of reclassification. A dated, signed document — identities, the room made available, duties, schedule, how the stay ends — protects both sides. Would you rather browse the rooms offered by hosts? Head over to the housing for services offers in Paris.

Frequently asked questions about housing for services requests

Who posts housing for services requests in Paris?

Mostly students and young professionals, often international, but also career changers, energetic retirees and newcomers to Île-de-France.

How many hours of services do candidates offer?

Each candidate states it in their listing; volumes most often run from four to twenty hours a week and are fine-tuned when you meet.

Does contacting a candidate cost anything?

No: signing up, posting and getting in touch are free, from one individual to another.

Can a reduced rent be agreed instead of an entirely free room?

Yes: some requests combine a few hours of help with a reduced contribution. What matters is that the signed document spells out the chosen formula precisely.