How to find housing in Europe before you arrive (and avoid scams)

In many European university cities, finding a room is harder than getting admitted. Demand is high, especially around September, and newcomers who cannot view properties in person are the main targets of rental scams. Every year students lose deposits to listings that never existed.

You can avoid most of these problems with a clear sequence: secure institutional housing if available, book a safe temporary stay, then search carefully for something longer-term. This guide shows how, from Pakistan.

What you need before you start

Landlords and housing offices ask for documents that prove you are who you say you are and can pay. Have these as PDFs.

• Passport copy
• Admission letter or employment contract
• Proof of funds: blocked account confirmation, scholarship letter or bank statement (see our proof of funds guide)
• A short introduction about yourself in English (and ideally the local language)
• Guarantor details if you have one (some countries and landlords ask for this)
• A budget: monthly rent, deposit and first month's rent upfront

Step 1: Apply for student or institutional housing immediately

Student housing is usually the safest and most affordable option, but places are limited. Apply as soon as you accept your offer, even before your visa is approved.

• Germany: the local Studierendenwerk runs student residences; waiting lists can be long.
• France: CROUS manages public student residences.
• Italy: the regional DSU agency offers housing, sometimes as part of a scholarship.
• Sweden and Finland: student housing foundations and companies in each city; some universities guarantee housing for certain international students.
• Luxembourg: the University of Luxembourg has its own housing service.
• Researchers and PhD candidates: ask HR or the institute; many have guest houses or partner agencies.

Read rules carefully: whether you can register at the address, contract length and what is included.

Step 2: Book a safe temporary stay for your first weeks

If you have no long-term contract before departure, book two to four weeks of temporary accommodation you can verify. It gives you time to view properties in person, which is the best protection against scams.

Options include university guest rooms, hostels, serviced apartments and reputable short-stay platforms with buyer protection. Check whether you can register your address there, since some countries require registration soon after moving in. Our first 30 days guide explains why this matters.

Step 3: Search through reputable channels

Use platforms and channels where landlords can be checked and where you have some protection. Avoid relying only on social media groups, where scams are common.

• University housing offices and their partner lists
• Established national rental platforms in each country
• Student unions and international student groups at your university
• Colleagues, if you are moving for work; employers often have relocation support

Set alerts and respond quickly, politely and with your documents ready.

Step 4: Check the listing and the landlord

Before you send any money, verify that the property exists and the person has the right to rent it. Most scams fail at this step if you are thorough.

• Ask for a live video viewing, not pre-recorded video or photos.
• Search the photos online with a reverse image search; scammers reuse pictures from other listings.
• Check the address on a map and street view.
• Ask for the landlord's identity and, where appropriate, evidence they own or manage the property.
• Compare the price with similar listings; anything far below the local market is a warning sign.
• Be cautious with landlords who say they are "abroad" and will send keys by post.

How the most common scams work

Knowing the script makes it easier to spot. These are the patterns newcomers from Pakistan and elsewhere meet most often:

• The absent landlord. A well-furnished flat at a low price; the owner is working abroad, cannot show it, and asks for a deposit so they can "post the keys". The flat either does not exist or belongs to someone else.
• The fake platform. You receive a link to what looks like a well-known booking site, with a payment page. The site is a copy; the money goes straight to the scammer.
• The copied listing. Real photos and a real address, taken from a genuine advert, reposted at a lower price with different contact details.
• The "agent" fee. Someone offers to secure student housing or a flat in return for an upfront fee. Legitimate university housing offices do not sell places.
• The overpayment trick. A "tenant" or "landlord" sends too much money and asks you to refund the difference before their payment bounces.

If you are unsure, ask your university's housing office or international office. They see these scams every year and will tell you honestly whether a listing looks right. If you have already paid, report it to your bank immediately and to the police in the country concerned, and keep every message.

Step 5: Understand the contract before signing

Insist on a written contract in a language you understand, and read it fully. Ask someone local or your university's housing office to check it if you are unsure.

Check:

• Rent amount and what it includes (heating, electricity, internet)
• Deposit amount and conditions for return
• Contract length and notice period
• Whether you can register your address there
• Rules on subletting, guests and furnishing

Some countries cap deposits or regulate rental contracts; your university or the local tenants' association can tell you the local rules.

Step 6: Pay safely

Pay deposits only after you have a signed contract and have verified the landlord. Use a bank transfer to an account in the landlord's or company's name, or a platform's protected payment system.

Never pay by:

• money-transfer services to individuals you have not verified,
• gift cards or cryptocurrency,
• cash to someone you have not met at the property.

Keep all receipts and messages. If something goes wrong, they are your evidence.

Step 7: If you are moving with family

Family housing takes longer to find and is checked by authorities in family reunification cases. Many countries require housing appropriate for your family's size before your spouse and children can join.

Start searching early, consider areas slightly outside the city centre, and ask your employer or university for help. Read our guide on bringing your spouse and children.

Common mistakes

• Paying a deposit to secure a room "before someone else does". Pressure is a classic scam tactic.
• Relying only on social media groups.
• Booking housing where you cannot register your address.
• Waiting for the visa before applying for student housing. Apply as soon as you are admitted.
• Underestimating upfront costs: deposit, first month and furniture.
• Not reading the contract.

Talk it through with us

Housing pressure differs a lot between cities, and it can change which university is the right choice for you. If you would like help weighing cities, timelines and realistic budgets, book a free 30-minute call with Visarole.