It was not so very long ago that if you were to move into someone’s house in their absence and attempt to adopt their lifestyle you’d likely be arrested for trespass or accused of squatting.

But since the increase in popularity of home/room/bed renting websites, it seems that people are only too happy to give their home over to strangers in return for a little extra income.

The needs of these short-term renters can vary, as can the standard of accommodation they choose to book.

Some just want a space to crash for the night as they are passing through a town and are happy to accept a sofa or even a floor in exchange for as little as a tenner.

Others might want to fantasise about being able to afford a pied a terre in some of the world’s most cosmopolitan cities and want to live like a local for a while.

Which is where a site like Onefinestay comes in.

It is rather more selective in its choice of locations than similar sites.

In fact it only features four cities – London, Paris, New York and Los Angeles.

And the beautiful photographs of the homes up for rent show rooms that could be used as the after shots in a glossy interiors magazine.

The quality of the apartments is reflected in the price. This is not a site one would come to looking for a “bed” that costs less than the price of a taxi and a takeaway kebab.

The cheapest apartment on offer in Paris is a one-bed that sleeps two and costs £87 a night. In London it is a one-bed apartment that sleeps two to four in Shoreditch and is £130 a night. In New York it is a studio in Chelsea that sleeps two and is £103 a night. In Los Angeles it is a one-bedroom apartment in West Hollywood that sleeps two for £159.

The most expensive apartment to rent across all of the cities was also in Chelsea (New York), a highline loft that costs £2,554 a night, but does sleep seven to ten.

The view of the Seine on the river trip taken at night, on a trip to Paris organised through onefinestay.
The view of the Seine on the river trip taken at night, on a trip to Paris organised through onefinestay.

We picked an apartment in the Bastille area of Paris in the 11th arrondissement, on the right bank of the Seine.

Paris was a city we had long wished to revisit and this was a part of it we had yet to explore.

Our trip took place after the horrifying attacks at Charlie Hebdo but before the terror in November, when so many died in and around the Bataclan Theatre in the 11th arrondissement.

On those sunny summer days, as musicians played in the subways and in the streets of what is now one of the trendier districts of the city, it was impossible to imagine the tragedy to come.

However, there were still occasional reminders of what the city had already endured, such as the defiant “Je Suis Charlie” slogan painted on walls.

Our apartment was in the Rue de Lyon, a series of converted attics that had been run together to create a loft.

Being a writer, however workaday, the idea of living in a garret appealed to me. But this was no cobweb-strewn loft. It had three bedrooms, a large living space with squashy sofas, artily strewn coffee table books, and piles of Hermès boxes as decoration.

Only two of the bedrooms were available for use. The third was sealed off with red tape (as were a number of cupboards) to protect the owner’s private things/life.

Looking at this little red barrier did make me wonder about who owned such an apartment and where they were while we were enjoying their hospitality in their absence. A second home? A place in the country? And would they be swathed in Hermès?

Part of the Onefinestay package is that they provide fresh linen for the beds and towels, hotel quality toiletries and a welcome pack (including wine that we drank on one of the teeny terraces, knees knocking together, as we surveyed the rooftops of Paris).

View from a balcony of the apartment in Rue De Lyon that Alison Jones stayed in on a trip to Paris organised through onefinestay.
View from a balcony of the apartment in Rue De Lyon that Alison Jones stayed in on a trip to Paris organised through onefinestay.

They also arrange a greeter who can give guests a local’s insight into the area, and hand over an iPhone with map on it to navigate their way to some of the attractions they recommend.

This proved an invaluable resource as we explored our new neighbourhood on foot, discovering the museums, restaurants and where to buy a morning bagel.

One of the things Alex, our greeter, told us to try was a river trip along the Seine that was accessed via a canal basin at the back of our apartment.

It turned out to be one of the most unexpectedly delightful evenings we had ever had. Splashed by the river water as the boat picked up speed, we bonded with some friendly Americans who, like us, determinedly sat in the bow, just pulling our hoodies and waterproofs a little tighter.

By the end of it we were sharing Champagne, snacks and tales of other travels.

And when the Eiffel Tower suddenly started sparkling in a late-night light show as Edith Piaf sang out across the boat’s loudspeaker, it may not just have been river water responsible for the moisture in our eyes.

* Alison Jones stayed in a two-bedroom/four person apartment on the Rue De Lyon. Prices start from £267 a night.

To inquire about renting an apartment or house with Onefinestay – or adding one to their roster if you are lucky enough to own a second property in any one of the four cities it operates in – look up www.onefinestay.com