Irish Beast:
Once you get your legal affairs in order, consider listing your apartment for rent on http://target="_blank">www.vrbo.com and http://bonjourparis.franglo.com/classifieds/index.php
You probably don't need a lawyer. A notaire is probably sufficient ... depending on how much your "friend" stole.
Call the American Chamber of Commerce for names of English-speaking notaires.
All the best ! Buy a big bottle of aspirin.
Lawyer, real estate agent etc
QUOTE(IrishBeast @ Oct 24 2006, 08:33 PM) 
I need a crash course in being a real estate proprietor in Paris. Basically an apartment I bought a few years ago has been administered by an ex-friend, who has cheated of all the rent.
In particular I need to know how to register with the Syndic, what are my insurance and other obligations. There is electricity and a phone connected, I also need to move these accounts to my name.
I also need to know an English speaking real estate lawyer in Paris, a reasonable locksmith, and an agency that specializes in furnished apartments.
The apartment is small, about 16m2 but right on Place St Michel in the 6th.
Hi Beast,
Some of these are easy, some more difficult. I presume you've got a title to the apartment that has your--not your former friend's--name on it. The title probably mentions the name/address of the Syndics who manage the co-op. If not, you can find out by speaking to one of your neighbors. Once you've got their name, I think a letter explaining who you are, and what the previous circumstances were will be enough for them to put your name in. Do you think there may be outstanding co-op charges that your ex-friend didn't pay?
Then, with your title, I'd go visit EDF and whichever phone company you're using to ask them to change the contercts into your name. I wouldn't envisage too much trouble.
But I can't help you with lawyers or agency. My lawyer only speaks French, and I don't have an agency.
Good luck. It sound like things were a big mess.
Marc
I need a crash course in being a real estate proprietor in Paris. Basically an apartment I bought a few years ago has been administered by an ex-friend, who has cheated of all the rent.
In particular I need to know how to register with the Syndic, what are my insurance and other obligations. There is electricity and a phone connected, I also need to move these accounts to my name.
I also need to know an English speaking real estate lawyer in Paris, a reasonable locksmith, and an agency that specializes in furnished apartments.
The apartment is small, about 16m2 but right on Place St Michel in the 6th.
In particular I need to know how to register with the Syndic, what are my insurance and other obligations. There is electricity and a phone connected, I also need to move these accounts to my name.
I also need to know an English speaking real estate lawyer in Paris, a reasonable locksmith, and an agency that specializes in furnished apartments.
The apartment is small, about 16m2 but right on Place St Michel in the 6th.