Want 10 quick tips on things to consider when looking for a home; where to start? What options are there? What can you think about to maximize your chances? We've got you covered!
A first step is to check which housing agencies are available in your municipality or where you are moving to. You can do this, for example, on our page for housing search. Register with the agencies you find: the municipality or regional housing agency (if they have one), student housing queues and other agencies. Here, the rental is (usually) legal and the rent is white. Make sure you are active on the sites and remember to pay any fees on time. It is also worth checking whether they use the first-come, first-served method.
Many private landlords have their own agency and an internal housing queue. You can often register via the landlord's website. If contact details are available for the landlord, you can also try calling or emailing. More and more private landlords are also joining HomeQ. To apply for housing through HomeQ, you need to register an account on their website and fill in your profile and write a personal letter that landlords can access when you express interest in an apartment.
Second-hand contracts are an option if you need accommodation quickly and the requirements are usually not as high as for a first-hand contract. However, competition is fierce and it is easy to be taken advantage of by rogue operators. It is therefore important to be careful and to know your rights:
- You should not pay too much rent
- You should check out the landlord
- Ask tosee the apartment and bring a friend
- Always sign a contract before paying a deposit or rent
If the situation is urgent and you have to take that flat where you suspect the rent is far too high, you can file a complaint with the Rent Tribunal afterwards. Remember to keep all documentation (e.g. rent notices, contracts, written communication between you and the landlord).
It is usually easier to find an apartment further out of town, as competition is fiercest for central apartments. Therefore, look at more areas, as many as possible. Find out how transport works, especially in the evenings and at weekends. Maybe the shuttle, train or bus goes straight to work, school, girlfriend or best friend. Go out to different areas to form your own opinion!
Some municipalities offer rent guarantees. This means that the municipality guarantees a tenant who is financially well-off enough to own their own home, but who still finds it difficult to get a rental apartment in the first place. This is often due to high demands from landlords in terms of employment and income. If, for example, you have a job but no permanent employment, this may therefore be an option for you. Contact your municipality to find out about the possibilities.
Sometimes it is easier to find a larger apartment than a studio. Looking for accommodation with other people gives you more choice, both in terms of size and rent. However, there is often only one person on the contract, which can lead to problems if one of the friends is late with the rent, or suddenly has to move. A good idea is to sign a contract giving each other a notice period. You can also check whether the landlord uses so-called buddy contracts. The housing agency in Stockholm, for example, offers buddy contracts, you can read more about what this means here.
There are a plethora of sites and forums where you can advertise that you are looking for housing, some of the most widely used being Facebook and Blocket. You can, of course, also use the analogous patch and tape technique in residential areas where you might want to live. Many people, especially students, want to sublet when they are traveling abroad, studying or working elsewhere. But again, be careful - never go and look at an apartment alone, there are many people who want to take advantage of desperate home seekers.
Make the most of the contacts you have yourself - spread the word on social media and ask your contacts to share, talk to everyone you know and ask your friends to keep their eyes open for you. You never know when something might come up.
Your prospective landlord will often want to see a lot of papers - make sure you have them ready to avoid missing out. This usually includes proof of identity, proof of employment, income/bank statements, admission certificates if you are going to university and references from previous accommodation. If you suspect that your chances are not very good, you can also check if someone close to you can act as a guarantor.
It's completely understandable if the situation feels hopeless, but don't give up! If you need more tips and advice along the way, check out our other housing search pages, which include tips on how to write letters of application to landlords, info on how to calculate whether your sublet is fair, and much more.
