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You are here: Home Housing Renting How to find student accommodation in Belgium

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09/09/2009How to find student accommodation in Belgium

Student Katie Read found that her first big test came before she had even left the UK - finding an affordable roof over her head.

Unless you’re one of the lucky few who get their accommodation provided by their college or university, you may or may not have stumbled upon the following dilemma.
 
“I am about to go abroad. I do not know a soul and I haven’t a penny to my name. I heard a rumour that students do not sleep but I myself find lecture theatres too uncomfortable for a snooze. I must find somewhere to live, somewhere cheap, within crawling distance from a bar, close to university I suppose, and preferably not falling apart. I’m sorry, did you just ask me to organise this before I’ve even got there?”
 
Go away and panic first if it helps. Then go to any student forum for people going to study abroad and you’ll find so many people in the same position. Forums are not for sad people with nothing else to do with their time - be proactive and get involved, you might find someone who is willing to look for a flat with you or even receive a direct offer from a landlord.
 
A few research tips:
  • Belgium is not a big country, and its cities, even Brussels, are surprisingly small. Thus GoogleMaps may make the walk to university look like you might need well-fitted hiking boots and a stick, but in reality you’d be close enough to warrant attending all classes on a regular basis.
  • Be really careful about renting from abroad. Many of the websites listed in this article are well-established with hundreds of previous student tenants, but many of the private forum posts will need to be checked. If you agree to ten-month tenancy without seeing a property you have no choice but to accommodate the pre-established ant asylum in your living room.
  • Many universities suggest that you come to Belgium a week or so before term starts to find accommodation.
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