How to Rent an Apartment in France Without a French Guarantor

Meta Title: Renting in France Without a Guarantor: Cautioneo vs Garantme vs SmartGarant vs MonGarant
Meta Description: Discover how expats can rent an apartment in France without a guarantor. Compare Cautioneo, Garantme, SmartGarant, and MonGarant costs. Learn why Cautioneo is the best option for foreign income.

Finding an apartment in France is hard enough—but if you don’t have a French job contract or family guarantor, it can feel impossible. Landlords almost always require a garant (a guarantor who pays if you can’t). For expats, students, or freelancers, this creates a serious barrier.

Fortunately, several companies now provide professional guarantor services. These allow you to rent in France without a traditional guarantor, even if your income comes from abroad.

There are two main types of services:

• Insurance-style guarantees: Companies like Cautioneo, Garantme, and SmartGarant act as your guarantor in exchange for a fee (a percentage of your rent).

• Physical guarantor services: MonGarant connects you with a real person who becomes your guarantor for a flat fee.

In this guide, I’ll explain how each service works, compare costs, and share my personal experience as an American expat who got approved using Cautioneo with only U.S. investment income.

Cautioneo: Best for Expats with Foreign Income

Cautioneo is one of the most flexible and widely accepted guarantor services in France. It provides an insurance-style guarantee that landlords and agencies recognize.

• Cost: 3.5% of rent (charges included) + €1/month. Students and civil servants pay 2.9% + €12/year.

• Approval: Initial simulation in minutes, final approval in about 48 hours.

My experience: I applied with only U.S. investment income—no French job contract. Cautioneo required official account statements (no screenshots), and after about one week, I was approved for up to €4,000/month in rent.

What makes Cautioneo especially powerful is their partnership with real estate agencies, which makes it easier to find landlords who accept them. For expats relying on foreign income, Cautioneo is an excellent choice.

Garantme: Fast but More Expensive

Garantme is another popular insurance-based guarantor in France. It is well established and accepted by many landlords.

• Cost: 4.5% of annual rent (charges included).

• Approval: Rental file certified within 24 hours.

Garantme works for students, freelancers, and expats with foreign income. It’s quick and widely accepted, but it’s also more expensive than Cautioneo.

SmartGarant: Affordable but Limited for Investment Income

SmartGarant offers a digital insurance-style guarantee that works well for many renters. It is positioned as affordable and fast.

• Cost: Around 3% of rent if paid annually, or 3.5% if paid monthly.

• Approval: Often within a few hours.

My experience: While SmartGarant is marketed as expat-friendly, I was denied when applying with only U.S. investment income. This makes it less reliable for expats who rely on foreign assets rather than salaries.

MonGarant: A Physical Guarantor Instead of Insurance

MonGarant is different: instead of providing an insurance-style guarantee, they connect you with a real person who becomes your guarantor.

• Cost: €199 flat fee (one-time).

• Maximum Rent: Not clearly stated, but marketed as suitable for expatriates and students.

This can be attractive for landlords who prefer a human guarantor over an insurance company.

⚠️ I haven’t personally used MonGarant. If you have, please share your experience with me at mybestmoneylife@gmail.com so I can update this section.

Cautioneo vs Garantme: Real Cost Comparison

To hit one of the most common questions—Cautioneo vs Garantme, which is cheaper?—let’s compare costs for typical French rents:

• At €1,000/month rent:

  • Cautioneo: €36/month (≈ €432/year)

  • Garantme: €45/month (≈ €540/year)
    → Cautioneo saves about €108/year.

• At €2,000/month rent:

  • Cautioneo: €71/month (≈ €852/year)

  • Garantme: €90/month (≈ €1,080/year)
    → Cautioneo saves about €228/year.

Bottom line: The higher your rent, the bigger the savings with Cautioneo compared to Garantme.

Recommendation: Why I Chose Cautioneo

After testing the main guarantor services, my recommendation for expats is clear: choose Cautioneo.

Here’s why:

• It’s cheaper than Garantme, saving €100–€200+ per year on typical rents.

• It accepts foreign income, unlike SmartGarant, which denied my U.S. investment-based application.

• It provides coverage up to €4,000/month rent, even without a French salary.

• It has agency partnerships, making it easier to find landlords who accept their guarantees.

While Garantme is fast, and SmartGarant may work for some, I found that Cautioneo is the best balance of cost, flexibility, and acceptance for expats in France.

If you’re moving to France without a French income, Cautioneo is the guarantor service I recommend first.

And if you’ve used MonGarant, please get in touch at mybestmoneylife@gmail.com—your story will help other expats navigate this process.