Academic Centre
“Erasmus Play” is a student housing search engine to find accommodation across Europe. It allows you to compare all available accommodation quickly and easily. In addition, you will be able to make a book in safely, as all the accommodations are 100% verified. The booking process is very simple:
- Select your destination and dates.
- Compare all available accommodation.
- Click and book safely and securely.
There is a wide variety of destinations: : Madrid, Milan, Paris, Porto, Berlin, Florence, Bologna, Lisbon, Rome, London, Munich, Frankfurt, Barcelona, Vienna, Helsinki, Budapest, Amsterdam, Stockholm and so much more!
The University of Latvia partners with Erasmus Play to help you find your new home easily anywhere in Europe.
WeShareWeCare project aims to bring cultures and generations together by connecting European seniors with international students through homeshare and related activities. If you wish to learn more about this project, click here to visit their online platform.
(Photo from realtor.com web page)
Tips on how to avoid housing & rental scams
Students looking for accommodation on the private market should be aware of potential fraudulent housing offers. It is important to never transfer any money before having a signed lease.
Before signing a lease:
- View the property before signing the lease or transferring money to the landlord. If possible, visit the apartment in person before signing anything.
- If the rent seems too good to be true, it may be a scam. Make certain that the rental agreement and the property are in sync.
- Check for the typical rental prices in the area to avoid overpaying the market price, as it is a relatively common practice used against foreigners.
- Read the lease contract thoroughly to understand your obligations and rights. If something does not make sense, ask for corrections in the contract. If the Landlord is not willing to make changes in the contract, it may be a scam, try searching for another place.
- Inspect the property at the start of the rental period and document any potential flaws. Take photographs and share them with your landlord to limit your liability at the end of the lease. Make sure to include the date and time in any pictures you take.
- Make sure that the landlord is the legal owner of the property you wish to rent.
- Make sure that the contract has a legitimate legal basis and that the terms for terminating the contract are clearly outlined and comply with the law. The Residential Tenancy Law can be found here: https://likumi.lv/ta/en/en/id/322216 (in ENG)
Do not:
- Do not pay in cash. If possible, make sure that the funds are transferred to a Latvian bank account. This ensures that you will have proof of what has been paid and when it was paid. Only do this after you have viewed the property and are completely satisfied with everything.
- Do not pay through an online payment service or international wire transfer services that cannot be traced.
- Do not agree to any demands, requests or deals over the phone. Make sure that everything is provided in a written format.
- Do not sign the lease or transfer funds, If the landlord is pressuring you before you are confident that you have all the information you need to make an informed decision.
- Do not pay under the table, it is illegal. Hold onto receipts or proof of payment in case something goes wrong.
We remind students of the UL Accommodation options (https://www.lu.lv/en/studies/student-life/accommodation/), and of the Erasmusplay platform to ensure a scam-free living experience.