Housing Guide

For a short period, you are stepping into parts of someone else's everyday life — their room, their neighborhood, their flatmates, their routines — and maybe handing over your own.

Whether you are renting a room, subletting for a semester, or swapping with another Erasmus student, talk openly before and after you commit. Ask practical questions and help each other prepare for the small uncertainties that come with a student move.

A good conversation should feel like:

“We are both going through the same stressful Erasmus housing situation. Let’s help each other make this as smooth as possible.”

Before you commit to renting, subletting, or swapping, take time to understand the person, the room, the dates, and the expectations.

Start with the basics

Make sure you both agree on the essentials before anything else — whether this is a short sublet, a semester rent, or a room swap:

  • Move-in and move-out dates
  • Rent, deposit, and utilities (who pays what)
  • Whether this is a rent, sublet, or swap arrangement
  • Housemates or shared living situation
  • Distance to university and public transport
  • Whether landlord, dorm, or housing office approval is needed

If any of these feel unclear, do not commit yet. These are the foundation of the whole arrangement. Browse Erasmus rooms to rent, sublet, or swap only when the listing matches what you need.

Then get a feel for daily life

Understanding the day-to-day matters as much as the lease dates: the rhythm of the flat, how people share space, and how the neighborhood feels in the morning versus at night.

Ask about flatmates' routines, common areas and noise, guests and overnight visitors, how you share groceries or cleaning, and whether the internet is reliable enough for course work and calls home. In a swap, ask the same questions about both rooms — you are each stepping into the other person's setup.

Talk about date mismatches early

We know that Erasmus dates are rarely perfect.

One person might arrive a few days earlier. The other might leave a week later — especially when a sublet or swap has to fit around flights and exams.

Housing contracts and university schedules do not always line up neatly, and that is okay, as long as you talk about it before committing.

You can ask:

  • Could either of you adjust move-in or move-out by a few days if needed?
  • What happens if the room isn't free yet when you arrive — is a short hostel stay or staying with friends realistic?
  • Is there someone trusted who could hold a key or let you in if schedules don't match?
  • Would a landlord or dorm allow a slightly different handover date?
  • How will you hand over keys or access if you don't overlap in the city?
  • If this is a sublet or swap, has the landlord / main tenant already been asked?

The goal is not to pressure the other person. The goal is to think through the details together before they become problems. When the basics feel solid, continue with after you commit.

Housing guideCities

City guide

Pick a country, then a city — local rent, neighbourhoods, timing, and gotchas, then jump to rooms when you are ready.

Austria

TipsViennaVienna housing tips

Czechia

TipsPraguePrague housing tips

France

TipsParisParis housing tips

Germany

TipsAachenAachen housing tipsTipsBerlinBerlin housing tipsTipsBonnBonn housing tipsTipsCologneCologne housing tipsTipsMunichMunich housing tips

Hungary

TipsBudapestBudapest housing tips

Italy

TipsMilanMilan housing tipsTipsRomeRome housing tips

Netherlands

TipsAmsterdamAmsterdam housing tips

Portugal

TipsLisbonLisbon housing tips

Spain

TipsBarcelonaBarcelona housing tipsTipsMadridMadrid housing tips

Still have questions?

  • Is Co-Erasmus free?

    Yes. Co-Erasmus is free to browse, list a room, and connect with other Erasmus students who want to rent, sublet, or swap.

  • What is the difference between renting, subletting, and swapping on Co-Erasmus?

    Renting means one student pays to stay in another student's room for an agreed period. Subletting is when you temporarily hand over your room (or part of it) while you are away, usually under your existing lease rules. Swapping is when two students exchange rooms for overlapping dates so both have somewhere to stay. Co-Erasmus supports all three peer-to-peer arrangements.

  • Can I sublet my Erasmus room through Co-Erasmus?

    Yes, you can list your room for a temporary sublet if your lease, landlord, dorm, or housing office allows it. Co-Erasmus helps you find another student, but you remain responsible for getting any required permission and following local housing rules. Check our legal requirements guide for country-by-country pointers.

  • Can I swap rooms with another Erasmus student?

    Yes. A swap is when you and another student exchange rooms for matching dates. Talk through dates, rent or cost differences, housemates, and handover details before you commit — the housing guide checklist is built for that conversation.

  • Can I rent a room without offering one myself?

    Yes. You can list a room, look for one, or do both. You do not need to offer a room in order to find one to rent or sublet.

  • Does Co-Erasmus verify student status?

    Yes. Before you can list a room or request one, Co-Erasmus verifies that you are connected to an Erasmus-related exchange or institution. You will be asked to upload an institution-related document, such as an enrollment certificate, exchange confirmation, or similar proof.

  • Do both people need to agree before committing?

    Yes. A room is only committed when you and the other person both clearly agree to it. Until then, nothing is final.

  • Can I talk to the other person before committing?

    Yes. You can chat in-app before committing. We encourage you to ask practical questions about dates, rent, the room, and daily life, talk openly, and make sure both sides feel comfortable before moving forward.

  • Will I know who the other person is?

    Yes. Before committing, you can review the other person's profile and room information. Private details, such as the exact address and contact information, are only shared after both sides commit. We also encourage you to have a video call before finalizing anything.

  • Can I cancel after confirming?

    Cancellations should be avoided whenever possible because they can seriously affect the other person's housing plans. Once both sides commit, you cannot cancel on your own — write to us at help@co-erasmus.eu and we will handle it with both of you. Plans do change, and we would rather help you sort it early than have someone find out late.

  • Does Co-Erasmus handle contracts, rent payments, or deposits?

    No. Co-Erasmus helps you find and coordinate rooms. Final contracts, rent payments, deposits, and landlord permissions remain your responsibility and should be handled directly between you, the other person, and any relevant housing provider.

  • What happens after a commitment is confirmed?

    Once you and the other person both confirm, Co-Erasmus creates a written mutual agreement summarizing the arrangement. This helps both sides stay aligned on the room, dates, and basic expectations. After confirmation, you are both considered committed for that semester, which helps reduce overlapping commitments on the platform.

  • Will my exact address be public?

    No. Your exact room address is not shown publicly. Before a mutual commitment, other users only see general room information, such as the city, area, photos, rent, availability, and room details.

  • Do I need permission from my landlord or housing provider?

    In many cases, yes — especially for a sublet or temporary swap. Co-Erasmus helps you find and coordinate rooms, but it does not replace landlord permission, rental contracts, or local housing rules. You are responsible for checking what is allowed in your own housing situation.

  • What if the dates are not exactly the same?

    Erasmus dates are often not perfectly aligned, so you can talk with the other person and decide whether a small date difference works for both sides. An arrangement should only move forward if you both clearly understand and accept the dates.

  • Is Co-Erasmus a housing agency?

    No. Co-Erasmus is a peer-to-peer platform built for Erasmus students. You deal student-to-student — whether you rent, sublet, or swap — instead of going through a traditional agency.