Accommodation abroad

Finding accommodation abroad can be a long, stressful process. Moreover, your search could easily end up with the disastrous outcome of not finding anywhere suitable to live. There are several tips and tricks you can take on board to reduce the likelihood or failure of a disappointing search for accommodation abroad.

Advice to Find Accommodation Abroad

Accommodation Location

Firstly, you should check that the accommodation is suitable for your location needs. Is it near the train station that you’ll ride to work everyday? Is it 5 minutes walk from your University campus? These are the kind of key questions you should be asking yourself before moving forward with your accommodation abroad search.

Who Lives in the Accommodation

If you will be sharing your new house or flat with someone, it is always a good idea to know who they are first. It depends what type of person you are looking for but the last thing you want is to turn up at your new accommodation and be sharing with someone who has completely different interests to you.

There could be a chance that no one lives in your new accommodation abroad and you will be moving in with other strangers who have contacted the same landlord you have. In this case, you should ask the landlord for their information (gender, age, profession) before signing any contracts.

Search for Key Accommodation Words

Can you smoke in the apartment? Are pets allowed? Is there wifi? Is there weekly/monthly cleaning? Are there curfew hours for noise? Can you have a Project-X style party on a regular basis?

These are just some examples of questions you should ask yourself when looking for accommodation abroad. Look out for key words in each and apply these when looking into any flat or house.

Accommodation Bills

When you are looking for accommodation abroad, you must always check whether the bills are included or not. Furthermore, you should check in the contract whether this is explicitly stated. It does not necessarily matter whether the bills are included or not. However, it is good to know whether you have unlimited use of electricity/water etc. without having to worry about it, or whether you must conserve, conserve, conserve!

Searching for Accommodation Online vs. in Person

There are 2 ways to search for accommodation abroad. Look online at the various accommodation websites for your particular destination or visit said destination to have a look at potential new housing with your own eyes. Sorting your accommodation out before arriving abroad is a good option because it is easy and relatively stress-free. Organising the accommodation after you arrive in a new country usually means that you must stay in a hostel for a number of days before finding your flat. It’s stressful and can often be more expensive. However, it depends on personal preference because some people feel that photos online are not sufficient, and that they must see the accommodation first-hand before signing a contract.

Consult our specific countries section to find our information about accommodation in particular places around the globe.

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