If you don't have housing with KTH you should start looking for private accommodation as soon as you are admitted. We do not assist in finding alternative housing, but we have gathered some valuable tips to get you going. Most of our students find their first accommodation through private housing ads and then move into SSSB student accommodation after a semester or two when they have enough queue days.
Step 1: Register for the SSSB queue
You can register for the Stockholm Student Housing Foundation (SSSB) housing queue 90 days before you become a student union member. You need to be a student union member to get housing from SSSB, and you can become a member when you arrive at KTH. Vacant apartments are offered to applicants who have the most days in the queue. The SSSB website shows the average waiting time for each housing option. Even though some students get housing quicker, expect to queue at least one semester before receciving an offer through SSSB. Students who are prioritized for housing through KTH for their first year are also highly recommended to sign up in the SSSB queue, to secure housing for their second year. For more detailed information about joining the SSSB queue, please check THS website thskth.se
You can also register for the Stockholm Housing Agency. They take a small yearly fee and you can not register before you have a Swedish personal identity number or coordination number. Average queue times are longer than SSSB, but some students get accommodation within a year.
Step 2: Look at private housing ads
Most students find their first housing on the subletting market. You can keep this housing throughout your studies or until you are offered accommodation from SSSB. Some students stay in a hostel or with friends for their first weeks in Stockholm while searching for accommodation. Renting a flat with other new students or a room in a co-living space for a shorter period is also an alternative.
Websites for subletting to get you started
Study in Sweden is an official resource on higher education in Sweden for prospective and current international students. Information about finding housing is available there and a list of subletting websites. Regardless of what website or agency you use, always pay attention to the risk of fraud.
Akademisk kvart is a non-profit online platform made by the Central Organization of Stockholm's Student Unions, where private sublets for students are advertised.
Studentbostäder i Norden AB SBS owns, manages and develops student housing in partnerships with municipalities, regions and universities. Their student apartments in Stockholm are offered in their own housing queue and via the Stockholm Housing Agency mentioned earlier on this page. Subleasing objects are posted for a limited time, sometimes only for 1-2 days, meaning you need to stay active and check for new ads often.
You can also apply for housing through DIS Study Abroad in Scandinavia, a study abroad organisation and KTH partner that sometimes offers vacant apartments to KTH students.
Tips on how to protect yourself from fraud
If the listing is with an agency, research the agency's reputation online by checking reviews and forums. For private landlords, verify they are real and reputable. Gather the name, address, and telephone number of the landlord and cross-check them with other online sources. In Sweden, data such as your home address, telephone number and birthday are often available to anyone through an online search.
Verify the property's address online by cross-checking its location on a map and looking at street-view pictures to ensure that it is a real location. You can also check with the property owner or tenant association to see if the landlord owns or rents the flat and if this person is permitted to sublet.
Always request to see the apartment before signing, and never pay until you've signed a lease and verified access. A common scam is asking for a deposit or full rent upfront without you seeing the property. Never send money before visiting the property or signing a legitimate contract.
A legitimate rental will offer you a formal lease agreement with clearly defined terms, such as the rental period, rent amount, deposit, and responsibilities of both parties. Never agree to a verbal agreement only.
Be suspicious if the price is unusually low for the area or if the photos look too polished and generic. Scammers often use stock photos or overly attractive prices to lure you in. If images seem suspicious, you can run them through an image search to see if they originate from another source. Also, watch out for landlords who are overly eager to sign a deal quickly and avoid answering direct questions.
If you are scammed, you should report it to the Swedish Police; you can do this on the Swedish Police website, by calling 114 14 or visiting a police station. If you are calling from abroad or from a foreign mobile in Sweden, call +46 77 114 14 00. If you are in an acute emergency, always call 112.
How far away from campus can I live?
To maximize your chances of finding accommodation quickly, we recommend not limiting your search to the city centre where the competition is the stiffest. The average commuting time in Stockholm is 40 minutes single journey. To find out if the accommodation you are interested in is within commuting distance from the campus, you can use the travel planner on the website of SL (Stockholm public transport).
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