Tips on Finding Student Accommodation in Europe

#1. Don’t Leave Before Finding a Place to Stay

This is probably the most important advice we can give. If you don't know where you live, you shouldn't travel to that country as a student.

Many governments require students to find accommodation before issuing visas. But even if your destination isn't, it's not a good idea to travel without knowing where you're staying. For one thing, it's risky, it's expensive to live in a hotel while you're looking, and students usually book the best apartments well in advance of your arrival, so long-term accommodation isn't recommended. It means hard to find. So find a place before you travel. However, the problem with renting before seeing it is how do you know if it's good?

#2. It’s Not Always Necessary to Visit Accommodation Beforehand

If you've ever rented accommodation, you know that there can be a big gap between how a place appears in pictures online and what it actually is. A simple camera trick can make a room look much larger than it actually is, but you can omit everything that makes your apartment look bad, like mold and rotten wood. Turning on the lights on a sunny day, taking pictures to make it bright and airy, rearranging the furniture, and providing just one photo of the room are all things that help landlords and realtors make a place look better. It's a common trick to use for He.

A simple and common solution to these tricks is to visit the apartment in person to see the difference. If he's looking for his city, it might only take him an hour to move there and then look around. And it's long enough. Doing this just once in a city thousands of miles away is not only time-consuming but also a huge financial burden.

Of course, this is not an ideal situation for a student saving for international education. Luckily, there are some safe online solutions that can save you time and money.

Online platforms such as Uniplaces help international students rent apartments safely. With these platforms, students don't have to fly out weeks in advance and go door-to-door while staying in temporary rooms. Book your room online anytime, anywhere.

While this type of platform typically doesn't allow pre-check-in visits, it invests in professional video and photography to ensure students have everything they need to make safe and informed decisions. Make sure information is available. That way it's no big deal if you can't see the apartment.

#3. Carefully Consider Your Contract

Landlords always treat their property with care. After all, it belongs to you. During negotiations, the property owner may require a minimum contract period, a signature of a surety (sometimes from the property's country), a tax return, proof of employment, or months of rent upfront. .

There are furnished and unfurnished accommodations. It's usually easier to find a place if the furniture is already in place. As a result, you may have to pay for the damage you caused to the apartment/furniture. Many contracts also require you to pay for cleaning after you move out. Before signing anything, make sure you are happy with the terms of the contract.

It is also very important to check if there are penalties for having to leave the house early.

#4. Don’t Go Over Your Budget

There are many things to learn while studying abroad. Second, how restrictive and annoying it can be when you arrive and find that you don't have the money to do what you planned. , housing, food, bills, college expenses, and cash outlays to create a budget and plan how much you can afford to spend each month.

One of the biggest expenses is accommodation. Stick to your budget and don't be tempted to sacrifice your savings for a particularly nice place. Better-located properties will cost more, as will larger, more furnished properties. If you want to rent an entire apartment for privacy, expect to pay more instead of sharing it with a few other people (often other students).

In addition to the rent, there are various costs such as a security deposit. The deposit is usually one to two months' rent and is always paid to the homeowner along with his first month's rent. This serves, for example, as a safeguard in the event of property damage. It is also important to check if the rental fee includes electricity, water, gas and internet charges. To figure out how much this kind of costs per month, you can do an online search on sites like Numbeo.

A remote location may look attractive at a lower price, but remember to factor in transportation costs (and commute time). In a city like London, an annual pass can cost thousands of pounds. Student travel is often discounted, but make sure your accommodation is economical and comfortable to live in.

#5. Consider Your Preferred Type of Accommodation

Budget is very important when choosing your preferred type of accommodation, but also consider the best area to live.

You can find rooms for rent in many places, such as near universities, student residences, Facebook groups, and, of course, online platforms for renting houses, especially for students.

You can rent an entire apartment, a single room in an apartment with other students, or a room in a student residence. Student residences are often more convenient as cleaning is included and payment systems are already in place. However, there are usually more rules to follow when it comes to guests and schedules. To live in a dormitory, contact the university to see if there are existing arrangements or if there are on-campus dormitories.

A whole apartment is harder to find and more expensive. You can search real estate websites, Facebook groups, or specialized platforms such as his Uniplaces mentioned above. It is also a good choice as they will issue you with an official accommodation certificate to help you apply for your student visa.

#6. Be Safe When Booking

Landlords aren't always completely honest about what their property really looks (or smells like).

This is especially true for properties found on advertising-focused sites such as B. Craigslist, OLX, or Gumtree where anyone is free to post ads. Therefore, use only reputable real estate websites when booking.

Landlords often require advance payment when booking accommodation. Always make sure the person is trustworthy before exchanging personal information or money. Take the time to search online and talk to friends and people at your university to learn about their study abroad experience and the best and safest options for you. Finding a place to live abroad can be quite a minefield at times, but as you can see, it's not the end of the world. 

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