Finding student accommodation safely abroad

Housing is one of the biggest costs of studying abroad and one of the easiest places to lose money. Scammers target international students because they are far away, new to the market and short of time. This guide is for students who are choosing where to live before they arrive. It compares the main options, explains how rental scams work, shows how to check a landlord, and covers contracts, deposits, visa paperwork and registering your address.

Halls, private rentals and shared housing

Each option suits different budgets and situations. Compare them using the real total cost, including bills, deposit and travel to campus, not only the monthly rent. Our study cost calculator can help you build that comparison.

For many students the safest start is university-managed housing or a short verified stay for the first weeks. You can then view private options in person once you arrive and know the area.

How rental scams work

Most scams follow the same pattern. A listing looks excellent: low rent, good photos and fast replies. The "landlord" is abroad or very busy, cannot show you the property and asks for a deposit now because many people are interested. After payment, the listing disappears or new fees appear.

• No viewing. If nobody can show you the property in person or on a live video call where you can ask to see specific rooms, do not pay.
• Pressure. "Pay today or lose it" is a warning, not a reason to hurry.
• Payment to a personal account. Be careful with transfers to an individual's account, cash, gift cards, cryptocurrency or money-transfer services. These are hard to recover.
• Prices far below the local market. Compare with similar listings in the same area.
• Fake or copied listings. Run a reverse image search on the photos and check that the address exists and matches the description.
• Moving off the platform. Be wary when a landlord asks you to leave the listing site and continue on a messaging app.
• Early requests for your passport or bank details. Share identity documents only for a real contract with a verified party.

Verifying landlords and agents

• Ask your university's accommodation office whether it keeps a list of approved landlords or agents.
• For an agent, check that the business is registered and look for membership of a recognized professional body where your country has one. Call the office number listed on the official website, not the one in the listing.
• Ask for proof that the person owns the property or is authorized to let it, and check that the name matches the contract and the account that will receive your money.
• Read independent reviews, and ask current or former tenants if you can.
• Use a payment method that leaves a record and offers protection, and keep every receipt and message.

Reading a tenancy contract

Read the whole contract before you sign, and ask the university's student advice service or a trusted adviser to read it too if anything is unclear. Do not sign under time pressure.

• Names of the landlord and every tenant, and the address of the property.
• Start date, length of the term and notice needed to leave or renew.
• Rent amount, payment dates and what is included: bills, internet, furnishing and cleaning.
• Deposit amount, where it is held and the conditions for getting it back.
• Rules on repairs, visitors, subletting and the landlord's right to enter.
• Whether the contract is joint, which can make each tenant responsible for the whole rent.

If the contract is in a language you do not read well, get it translated before signing.

Deposits and tenant rights

Deposit rules differ by country, state and province. In some places a landlord must place your deposit in an approved protection scheme or a separate account and tell you where it is. In others the rules are different. For England, see the official tenancy deposit protection guidance (opens in a new tab) on GOV.UK, and check the rules for your own destination before you pay.

• Ask in writing how the deposit is held and when it is returned.
• Take dated photos of the property on move-in and ask for a written inventory.
• Report problems in writing and keep copies.

Tenant rights also differ by place, but they often include a written agreement, a safe and habitable home, notice before a landlord enters and a legal process before eviction. Look up your local rules, and use the student union or university advice service if you have a dispute.

First night, visa proof and registering your address

Book your first nights before you fly, ideally somewhere verified, so you arrive with an address to give at the border. Some visa applications ask for proof of accommodation, and others do not. Rules differ by country and route, so check the accommodation section of the visa page for your destination, such as the United Kingdom or Germany, and the official government page. If proof is required, ask what form it must take, because a verified booking or university confirmation is safer than an informal promise.

Some countries require you to register your address with the local authority within a set period after you arrive. Check whether yours does, and keep the signed contract and landlord details you will need for it.

Next step: decide your budget with the study cost calculator, check your university's accommodation deadlines, and verify every landlord before you pay. Jandify cannot guarantee any visa or housing outcome, so confirm requirements with the official sources.