What to look for in an apartment
The process of looking for a new apartment can be overwhelming, and even more so when moving to a new country. When you are studying abroad, your apartment is an important aspect that you do not want to rush, and it may not be something your university will help with. Below, we have listed some of the main things you should consider when looking for an apartment abroad.
Location
Location is arguably one of the most important things to look at for an apartment. It is important to do research of where the “center” of the city is and where most of the bars/restaurants are, since that is likely where you will be spending time with friends. If your school is outside of the city center, it still may be worth living in the center and commuting to school: as my friends say, “you can always metro home from school, but you can’t always metro home from the bars.” If you’re only studying abroad for a semester or year, living far from the center of the city means you might miss out on spontaneous plans and you lose time on public transport.
A few other things to consider regarding location: What is this neighborhood known for (students, diversity, nature, etc.) and is that what you’re looking for? Regarding safety, is the apartment on a well-lit street? Are there a lot of nearby restaurants or cafes? How close is the nearest grocery store?
Public Transport
If you’re moving to a new country without a car, you’re going to need to know where the nearest bus and metro lines are, and how convenient they are to get to the neighborhoods you want to spend time in. Making sure you have regular access to your school and to the center of the city is important: you can test this by mapping your potential metro trips. Remember: it’s not only about being close to a metro line, but being on the right metro line - you don’t want 3 metro transfers in the morning if you can avoid it.
Price
Price is an undeniable factor in apartment searching, and goes hand-in-hand with location. By looking at lots of apartments available on various websites, you should be able to gauge what a “normal” price is. For a study abroad, you don’t want to overspend on housing if it’s not in your budget: spending too much for housing means you have to give up other experiences. Look realistically at your budget, while taking into consideration the city’s cost of living and any trips you may want to take. Don’t forget about utility expenses (water, electricity, gas, wifi) to see how much they cost or if they are included. We got you covered! Check out our The Ned|Lon Special Bundle.
Functionality
Another important aspect is the actual functionality of your apartment. The following is a list of considerations:
Think about the size of the common areas: is it enough to invite friends over?
Is there basic furniture already there, or will you have to buy everything?
How much storage do you have in your room, will it be enough?
Is there enough storage in the kitchen?
Is there an oven, stovetop, blender, toaster, and microwave?
Is the sink too close to the stovetop or fridge (which could be a problem for multiple roommates)?
Are the bathrooms for all the roommates to use or are some of them private?
Sleepability
As a country boy who moved to a big city, I wish I had considered sleepability! As someone who cares a lot about my sleep, I was in for a rude awakening (literally) when I realized on my first night that my street was noisy at all hours of the night, with my window right above a cafe/bar. I’ve learned to sleep with noise, but this is still an important consideration.
Solid Contract
A common mistake that university students make is that they don’t read the contract or the house rules before signing or paying a deposit. Some rental companies will have you pay the deposit first, but you should always ask to read the contract and house rules. Some rules can be a bit restrictive: as an example, my first apartment wrote in the contract that I had to pay 70 euro per night to have an overnight guest! You can always ask the landlord or rental company questions you have - it’s better to ask before you sign than after, in case you can negotiate them. There are other important considerations in a rental contract:
How much notice do you have to give if you leave early?
If you have to leave early, how much money would you lose?
How much is the deposit, and will you get all of it back?
Are there any hidden fees that increase the price of rent?
If you break any house rules, are there any penalty fees or could you be removed?
Roommates
Roommates can make or break a living situation. Logistically, the ratio of toilets/showers to roommates is important to consider, as well as the amount of refrigerator space. If you are able to view the apartment in person, you might be able to meet the roommates and understand the “vibe.” Otherwise, make sure to ask the landlord if the renters are students and where they are from: you want to make sure the common language of the apartment is one you speak!
Balance
Unfortunately, you will probably never find a cheap apartment in the perfect street, which is next to a metro, has perfect roommates, an easy contract, that is beautiful and quiet - you’ll have to sacrifice something. Consider what is most important to you, and choose accordingly: you pay more for an apartment in the center, or you can save money by going a bit outside.