Study in Sweden Digital Ambassador Application: Three Tips for Apartment Hunting in Sweden

Words that come to mind  during apartment hunting include stress, anxiety, hurry… a medley of negative vocabulary. If I am grateful for one thing, it is for the help of a friend in the process of tracking down my new apartment. So I will now pass on the favor; I present to you a small list of the simple things easily forgotten when commencing this seemingly baffling ordeal.

Firstly- read the emails sent to you. Upon receiving my conditional offer, I was immediately approached by the accommodation services telling me of their and third party services available for students to help their search. Ignore this, and you will surely be worrying about which bridge will provide the best shelter during the first week after arrival.

Secondly, don’t panic. Resorting to desperate rushed decisions can cause you to forget that Sweden is a developed socialist utopia, which in the face of adversity will not abandon the people needing help. Desperation can also end up in you losing a security deposit to a scammer. The evildoers always pray on the fearful.

Finally, and most importantly, don’t blame the system for your woes. When beginning my search, I entered a queue for apartments provided by a housing company. Their website was disorganized to the point of causing irrational anger. It was easy to rage against the system to vent your anxiety. Yet the system allowed me to sign my contract online, gave me the keys immediately when they were available, and continue to remind me of their unwavering support. There is no such thing as a perfect system, but remember the people are there to help you.

Following these points you are already off to a good start to a new life in Sweden. Housing is the worst aspect to deal with. Once you have sorted that, let the good times roll!