FAQ
Frequently asked questions
You will find here the most frequently asked questions,
organized by topics.
General Questions
A Commune is a place where single parents and their children can live and grow together! It’s a shared living space dedicated to single-parent families, organised around private units, shared spaces and mutualised services. Each family retains its privacy, as well as having access to shared spaces. To find out more about the organisation of spaces within a Commune, click here!
To be eligible to join a Commune, you need to:
– Be a single parent – dad or mum, all Communes are co-head!
– Have one or more dependent child(ren), enrolled at school
-Participate in community life and commit to respecting the internal guidelines of the Commune.
Additional conditions may apply to each residence, but in any case, you need to fill out the application form. It only takes 5 minutes!
Each Commune generally accommodates a minimum of 8 families (around twenty people, including adults and children), and can accommodate several dozens depending on the location. This is subject to change in each residence!
The period of stay in the Communes varies and depends on the needs of the families. By default, a family commits for 1 year and can extend their stay for up to 3 years.
If at any time you decide to leave a Commune before the end of your lease, you have a one-month notice period, according to our internal regulations.
Prices vary depending on the residences, and the duo offer for 1 parent and 1 child starts at €790 (learn more about each offer).
All utilities (water, electricity, etc.) and numerous services are included in our offers, including internet, various subscriptions to streaming services (Netflix, Disney+, Spotify), cleaning of common areas, daily maintenance, as well as legal assistance, educational support, and numerous events.
Other services are available on-demand at very competitive prices, including after-school childcare, evening and weekend babysitting, meal preparation, extracurricular activities, sports lessons, etc. To learn more about the service offer, click here!
There are two types of individual units in the Communes:
– “Duo” units can accommodate one parent and one child, and consist of two sleeping areas, a bathroom, and a kitchenette.
– “Trio” units can accommodate one parent and two children, and consist of two sleeping areas, a convertible living room, a bathroom, and a kitchenette.
Our residences are fully furnished and equipped, both for the individual units and for the shared spaces.
The shared spaces are equipped as follows:
– Washing machines and dryers in the laundry room.
– Games, toys, and equipment in the multipurpose playroom.
– Small and large appliances, ovens, fridges in the kitchen.
The kitchenettes in the individual units are also equipped with induction cooktops, a fridge, and a microwave oven.
Our team does its best to make you feel comfortable and at home. If that includes additional decorations, feel free to express your creativity! However, upon your departure, the individual unit must be restored to its original condition.
Currently, it is not possible to choose your individual unit. Depending on the Communes, we offer two types of individual units (description here).
If certain units in the same category differ in terms of size or certain elements (balcony, view, etc.), it will be specified in the description, and you will have the opportunity to indicate your preference, without a guarantee that we can assign your first choice.
The size of an individual unit varies depending on the number of occupants and the building structure. The exact dimensions will be communicated to the candidates.
Of course! You are at home, and you can definitely receive mail at Commune. An individual mailbox will be provided to you during the duration of your lease.
Shared Spaces
The shared spaces vary depending on the residences, but you will find at least the following in all our Communes:
– A large equipped kitchen and dining area
– A multipurpose playroom
– A laundry room
Depending on the Communes, you may also find other shared spaces such as a garden, a terrace, a coworking space, etc.
In addition to basic appliances such as fridges, ovens, microwaves, stovetops, and dishwashers, the kitchens in the Communes are equipped with a variety of kitchen appliances. You will find blenders, coffee makers, teapots, kettles, toasters, raclette machines, and more!
Furthermore, our kitchens are equipped with dishes for optimal communal use.
Basic grocery supplies are also provided (olive oil, salt, pepper, coffee, tea, etc.).
The playroom is intended to be used by all children living in the Commune and occasionally by their parents. It includes non-heavy and modular structures with floor mats, games, toys, and a wide range of equipment that will delight both young and older children!
Community Living
Our residents are single parents from all walks of life. Driven by a desire to share while preserving their privacy, our community puts families and children at the center of the experience. Whether dads or mothers, single parents by choice or due to separation, divorce, or widowhood, with full custody or joint custody, the profiles are diverse!
There are an internal guidelines specifically designed for living within a Commune, and it is part of the documents to be signed when signing the lease agreement.
You are at home, and of course, you can invite guests as long as it is done with respect for the other families and in compliance with the internal guidelines. If someone stays overnight, make sure it is within your individual unit (or in a dedicated space reserved in advance for residences that provide one) and not in a shared space.
No need to worry! The events are designed for entertainment and building connections, and there is no obligation to participate.
At Commune, our mission is to make you feel comfortable in your new life. We evaluate each situation on a case-by-case basis and do our best to allow you to have your four-legged companions in your individual unit, respecting everyone’s boundaries and the internal guidelines of each residence.
There is no curfew. However, the internal guidelines include the applicable regulations regarding noise, especially during the day and night. We rely on each family to respect their neighbours and the surrounding community.
Subletting your individual unit is not authorized.
- In the event of a change in family status: we are a solution dedicated to single-parent families, and we ask parents who enter into a formal domestic partnership arrangement to make way for single parents according to the specified notice period.
- In the event of non-compliance with the internal guidelines, Commune reserves the right to ask the family in question to vacate the premises, while respecting the notice period.
- If the youngest child of a family residing at Commune reaches adulthood during the lease term, the lease will not be renewed the following year. Our solution is particularly suited to parents with dependent children under 18 years old. If one of the children of a family residing at Commune reaches adulthood during the lease term while another underage child remains in the family’s care, Commune reserves the right to ask the family in question to change units.
Unfortunately, no! While you can invite your partner to Commune occasionally, it is not possible for that person to move in with you.
As mentioned, Commune is exclusively dedicated to single-parent families, and therefore, we ask parents who officially enter into a domestic partnership arrangement to make way for single parents according to the notice period specified in the internal guidelines.
Services
The base offer includes several services:
- Utilities (water/heating/electricity);
- Internet;
- Cleaning of shared spaces;
- Daily maintenance;
- Legal assistance;
- Tutoring;
- Streaming subscriptions: Netflix/Spotify/Disney+.
To learn more, click here!
We also offer on-demand services, which may vary depending on the residences, including but not limited to:
- After-school childcare;
- Babysitting;
- Meal preparation;
- Parcel reception (availability depends on the residence);
- Sports activities (yoga classes, local sports events…);
- Artistic activities (drawing classes, painting…);
- Storage facilities;
- And more.
To learn more, click here!
The price of add-on services varies depending on the type of service and the geographical area. However, these services are offered at very competitive rates as they are shared among the other families.
Price / Lease Fees
Prices are initially determined by the geographical area where the Commune is located, the type of shared spaces offered (rooftop, garden, etc.), and the type of individual unit you choose. The goal is to provide savings of 20 to 30% compared to traditional alternatives in the private rental market.
As an indication, the duo offer for one parent and one child starts from €790 all-inclusive (learn more about each offer).
Prices vary from one Commune to another. They are partly determined by the geographical area where the residence is located, the size of the individual units, and the typology of the shared spaces.
Financial Resources
To live in a Commune, we require income that is twice the annual amount requested for the targeted residence.
For example, to be eligible for a “duo” unit that costs €1,190 in the Yvelines residence, you would need to earn a minimum net annual salary of 2 x €1,190 x 12 = €28,560.
To be eligible for a “duo” unit that costs €790 in the Lille region residence, you would need to earn a minimum net annual salary of 2 x €790 x 12 = €18,960.
We consider all types of income and review all applications. A permanent contract (CDI) is not a prerequisite!
The equivalent of one month’s rate will be collected as a security deposit no later than one week before moving in, and it will be refunded to you after the final inspection, provided that the premises are left in their initial condition.
Application
To apply, simply fill out the application form on our website. It only takes 5 minutes!
We process applications as quickly as possible. Depending on the volume of applications and as an indicative timeframe, you can expect a total processing time of one to two months between submitting your application and the move-in date.
The application process is as follows:
- Video interview lasting 30 to 45 minutes
- Uploading of the supporting documents verifying your situation (identification, employment status, income, etc.)
- Offer including a detailed description of the unit and the specific price
- Signing of the contractual documents (lease agreement, internal guidelines, SEPA direct debit authorisation, and any other documents related to the lease)
- Payment of the security deposit (up to one week before moving in)
