How do you find a student room?
Looking for a student room is an exciting and sometimes stressful task. Unsure where to begin? We help to get the ball rolling.
StEp 1 - Who will be your kot landlord?Step 2 - when do you look for a kot?Step 3 - what to watch out for. Six important tips!
Step 1
Who will be your kot landlord?
Renting from an educational institution
Some colleges and universities have their own student housing. VUB has about 1500 rooms on and around its campuses. LUCA and KU Leuven – Brussels, Campus Sint-Lucas offer 67 rooms in Art UpKot.
Find out from the student associations at your educational institution whether there are rooms available for you. Make sure to check whether you qualify for financial support.
Renting with Brik
Brik lets more than 350 student rooms. In these cases, Brik is the landlord. Everything is arranged directly between Brik and the student: from the tenancy agreement to the day-to-day maintenance.
Renting a room from Brik for the full academic year? No problem! Brik lets furnished rooms in Brussels for a period of twelve months.
What if you’re looking for a room for just a few months? You can rent from Brik in those circumstances too. Students who will be staying in Brussels for a maximum of one semester can turn to the Van Orley International Student House.
Brik’s rooms are reserved for students from the institutions partnering with Brik (VUB, EhB, Odisee, LUCA, KU Leuven – Brussels campuses).
MOREINFO ABOUT RENTING A ROOM FROM BRIK More info about Van Orley
MyKot
At mykot.be, you’ll find more than 3,300 student rooms, studios and apartments for students in Brussels. Brik also manages the student room finder MyKot—in collaboration with PLE (Plateforme logement étudiant).
SVKS
What if you’re looking for a student room but you’re having financial difficulties? The social rental office for students (SVKS – Sociaal Verhuurkantoor voor Studenten in Dutch) lets rooms at a reduced price to students with a modest income.
Step 2
When do you look for a student room?
During the Open Room days in spring, landlords open their student houses and invite you to get a taste for the atmosphere and the studentlife.
During the summer months, we guide you around our student rooms that are available for the next academic year. Join us on a Kottour through the different neighbourhoods in Brussels. You’re able to sign a contract on the day for your favourite kot.
Step 3
What to watch out for. Six important tips!
We are giving you six important tips to help in your search for a student room.
1. Know yourself. Decide on the level of comfort you will be happy with. Look for something that fits you and your personality. Do you want to share a kitchen and bathroom? Or do you need more space for yourself? Because that means you might be better with an all-in private studio. Are you looking for a student residence with a lot of facilities or more of a house-like building that has ten rooms but no extras?
Collective housing—or shared housing—has a lot of benefits. The price! Cooking together! Support during the exams! But don’t forget to put the toilet seat down and to leave hot water for the person lining up to use the shower after you. 🙂
At MyKot, you can filter through more than fifty search criteria. Make the most of it.
2. Arrange a visit. If the situation allows it, try to first see your room. This way, you’ll avoid nasty surprises and possible scams. You’ll know the room exists and have the opportunity to assess the quality yourself. A chat with the current resident is also always useful.
3. Location, location, location. Are you someone who prefers to turn up at lessons in their slippers? Choose a room close to—or on—the campus. Or should you choose a room in a more lively neighbourhood? Just remember that student rooms outside the city centre are often cheaper.
Pro tip: A bike will quickly take you wherever you need to go. And an annual pass for public transport in Brussels costs just 12 euro for a full year.
4. Safety first. Choose a room that meets all the legal standards for fire-safety and liveability. Check for smoke detectors, fire doors and fire extinguishers.
Pro tip: Choose a student room from mykot.be. All rooms are regularly checked.
5. A solid, reliable contract. Use the MyKot model contract and you’ll avoid nasty surprises. If you rent via another platform, compare that contract with the model contract.
Make sure you have a clear understanding of the financial obligations before you sign. Are you paying an all-in price, or are there extra costs at the end of the rental period? If you pay for your own use, find out how everything is heated and possibly even ask what the costs were like for the tenant before you. Only pay after you’ve signed.
6. Look before you leap. Living in a student room and suddenly being 100% on your own is a big step. A new city, a new school, cooking for yourself and finding your own way, avoiding temptations and studying in a timely manner. Living in a student room costs money too. Can you pay the price being asked for twelve months? You’re signing a contract. If you break it, you’re guaranteed there will be costs involved.
