Finding student housing abroad

Housing is the second source of worry after admission, and often the first source of bad surprises. It shapes the budget, sometimes the visa file, and it is almost always searched for from a distance. Starting early changes everything: halls of residence open their applications well before the start of term, and the best offers go during the summer.

The three main options

A hall of residence is the simplest option administratively: the lease is short, the charges are included most of the time, and the certificate it provides is accepted everywhere. It is also the most sought after.

A shared flat costs less and makes arriving easier, but the legal status varies: being a flatmate who signs the lease and being a subtenant do not carry the same rights.

A private studio offers the most freedom and asks for the most guarantees. That is where the guarantor question really comes up.

The documents you will be asked for

The list changes from one country to another, but the core is stable:

• an identity document or your passport;
• your enrolment certificate or your admission letter;
• proof of funds: bank statements, a scholarship, or your parents' income;
• the contact details and supporting documents of the guarantor, when there is one;
• sometimes a home insurance certificate, to be taken out before the keys are handed over.

Have these documents scanned, readable, in a single folder. Places go quickly, and a complete file sent the same day often makes the difference.

The guarantor question

Many landlords ask for a guarantee: a person or a body that undertakes to pay if the rent is not paid. A guarantor living abroad is frequently refused, which puts international students in a difficult position.

Three solutions keep coming up: a public or institutional guarantee scheme where the country has one, a bank guarantee blocked on an account, or a private guarantee company, which charges for it. Check which one the landlord accepts before you put the file together: these guarantees are not interchangeable.

The case of France: remember to ask about the APL

In France, a housing benefit called the APL can be paid to students, foreign students included, under certain conditions. Eligibility depends on the housing, on your personal situation and on your residence permit; it is assessed by the competent body, the CAF, and never by the landlord or by us. Simply ask the question before signing: is the property covered by the scheme, and which documents are needed to file a claim?

A few habits that prevent problems

• Never send money before you have a signed document. A request for a deposit by instant transfer, for a place that nobody will let you visit, is the most common scam.
• Ask for a live video viewing rather than photographs.
• Check what the service charges cover: heating, water, internet, and the local housing tax depending on the country.
• Work out the real budget, transport included. A lower rent forty minutes from the university sometimes costs more than a higher rent close by.
• Read the length of the commitment and the termination conditions, especially if your programme lasts less than a year.

Where Success Study comes in

We work on the housing search at the same time as the admission file, because the two calendars cross. The Success Study platform puts students and landlords in touch, and your exchanges stay in the same place as the rest of your file.

Not sure where to start? Write to us with your study city and your budget: an advisor will tell you which options are available and which documents to prepare.