⚠ When looking for an accommodation it is strongly recommended to follow these guidelines:

First, it is strongly recommended to visit the apartment or house before committing to any lease or deposit. If you are unable to get there before the start of your course, focus on the most complete ads with as many photos as possible. Feel free to ask landlords for more information and photos.

Distances stated in advertisements between the flat and the points of interest (campus, downtown …) are often shortened. Therefore, we advise you to always check the exact location of a home with the help of Google Maps (or other similar software) so you do not get tricked. It is common to come across ads mentioning “5- minute walk from the city centre” whereas the accommodation is actually 15 minutes away.

It is also important to consider the bills management (electricity, gas, internet … etc): some will be supported by the owner, some will be at your own expense. This is a non-negligible factor. Indeed, it can have a substancial impact on the total cost of your accommodation at the end of the month.

Length of lease agreements

It is imperative to take into account the duration of your potential lease. Landlords often offer 9-month leases for students (from September to May). However, some others require a full year length. You must know that leases are much more simplified than in some other European countries. The points to remember (in most cases) are:

• a refundable deposit equivalent to 1-month rent will be required at the time of the 1st rent;
• if you decide to extend your lease for an indefinite period, you will be given one month notice before your departure;
• rents will be requested on the first day of the month. However, it may happen that the landlord requires a bimonthly or a weekly payment. You will notice that many ads display the rental price per week.