A guide for young Mongolians renting accommodation abroad for the first time
📖 REAL STORY A Mongolian student came home from university one afternoon to find every single one of her belongings stuffed into black bin bags and dumped on the street. The landlord had changed the locks. No warning. No legal process. Just gone. It was summer, so at least it was warm outside. She sat next to her bin bags for half a day — not crying, not shouting — just trying to figure out who could actually help her, right now, without asking too many questions first. She had good English and a friend to ask for help. That saved her. But knowing her rights would have saved her even earlier. |
Renting a room or flat abroad for the first time is one of the most vulnerable moments in a young person's life. You are in a new country, often alone, and a landlord has something you urgently need: a roof over your head. That power imbalance is exactly what bad landlords exploit.
This guide tells you what to look for, what to demand in writing, and what to do when things go wrong.
1. The Rental Contract — Read Every Word
A rental contract (tenancy agreement) is the document that either protects you or leaves you defenceless. Never pay a deposit or move in without one.
🚨 No contract = no rights. A landlord who says 'we do not need paperwork, we trust each other' is telling you they want no accountability. That is not trust. That is a trap. |
Your rental contract must state:
✅ The full name and contact details of the landlord or letting agency
✅ The full address of the property and your specific room or unit
✅ The start date and end date of your tenancy
✅ The monthly rent amount — the exact figure, in writing
✅ When rent is due each month, and how it must be paid
✅ The deposit amount and the conditions for getting it back
✅ Notice period — how many weeks or months notice each side must give
✅ What is included — bills, internet, furniture — and what is not
✅ Rules about guests, noise, and using shared spaces
💡 SMART MOVE Before signing, read every clause. If something is unclear, ask for it to be explained in writing — by email or message, so you have a record. A landlord who cannot clearly explain their own contract is one to avoid. |
2. The Deposit — Protect it From Day One
The deposit is typically one to two months of rent paid upfront. It is meant to cover damage or unpaid rent at the end of your tenancy. In reality, it is one of the most common ways students lose money.
Before you hand over any deposit money:
Ask for a written receipt immediately — showing the amount, the date, and what it is for
In many European countries, landlords are legally required to register your deposit in a government-protected scheme — ask which scheme yours is in
Understand exactly under what conditions you will receive it back, and by what date after you leave
🚨 The most common deposit scam: At the end of your tenancy, landlords invent damage or cleaning costs to keep your deposit. The way to protect yourself is to document the condition of the room on the day you move in — before your belongings are unpacked. |
💡 SMART MOVE On move-in day: take dated photos and short videos of every room, every wall, every appliance, every piece of furniture. Show marks, scratches, or damage that already exist. Send these photos to the landlord by email or WhatsApp that same day so there is a timestamp. This single step has saved thousands of students their full deposit. |
3. Eviction - What Is Legal and What Is Not
This is the section that most students read only after something has already gone wrong. Read it now.
In almost every European country, a landlord cannot legally:
❌ Change the locks without a court order
❌ Remove your belongings from the property without legal process
❌ Enter your room without giving you a reasonable advance notice (usually 24–48 hours)
❌ Evict you without serving proper written notice
❌ Force you to leave before finding alternative accommodation in some countries
❌ Harass, threaten, or intimidate you to make you leave
What is legal eviction?
✅ Written notice given within the terms of your contract
✅ A legally required minimum notice period — usually at least one month
✅ In serious cases, a formal court process before physical eviction can occur
⚠️ If a landlord changes your locks or puts your belongings outside: Do not walk away. This is an illegal eviction in most countries. Contact a local tenant rights organisation, your university's student union, or the local housing authority immediately. You have the right to re-enter. |
4. Rent Increases — They Cannot Just Decide
Some landlords treat rent as something they can adjust whenever they feel like it. That is not how it works — if you have a contract.
During a fixed-term contract, the landlord generally cannot increase your rent at all
After the fixed term, increases must follow the rules of that country — and must be given in writing with proper notice
In countries like Germany and the Netherlands, rent increases are capped by law — there is a maximum amount landlords can charge in a given area
If a landlord demands a sudden increase and threatens to evict you, this is likely illegal action, and you should seek advice immediately
💡 SMART MOVE Keep a copy of your signed contract in a safe place — not just on your phone. Email it to yourself. If a landlord claims your rent was always higher, your signed contract is your evidence. |
5. Repairs and Safety - The Landlord’s Responsibility
A landlord's job does not end when you move in and start paying rent. They are legally responsible for keeping the property safe and habitable.
The landlord must maintain:
Secure locks on all external doors and windows
A working heating system
A safe electrical system and plumbing
No damp, mould, or structural damage that affects your health
Smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors are required by law
If something needs repairing:
Report it in writing — by email or message — so there is a record with a date
Give a reasonable deadline for the repair to be done
If ignored, follow up again in writing and keep all records
If the issue is serious (broken locks, no heating in winter, dangerous wiring) contact local housing authorities
📖 REAL STORY After a break-in through a weak wooden door, a student repeatedly asked her landlord to replace it properly. He nailed a panel over the hole and disappeared. She reported it in conversations but never in writing. When she tried to escalate, she had no evidence of her requests. Always, always write it down — even a WhatsApp message with a date and a read receipt is evidence. |
6. How Protection Differs by Country
Not all countries protect tenants equally. Before you choose where to study, it is worth knowing what protections are in place where you are going.
🇩🇪 Germany — Strong Tenant Protection |
Landlords cannot evict you without serious legal grounds and a long formal process
Rent increases are capped — landlords cannot charge above the local Mietspiegel (rent index)
You must find your next accommodation before a landlord can physically remove you
Deposits are limited to three months' rent and must be kept in a separate account
Tenant associations (Mieterverein) offer cheap legal support — join one as soon as you arrive
🇳🇱 Netherlands — Regulated but Competitive |
Social housing has strict rent caps; private market rents are high, but contracts are regulated
Landlords must give at least one month's written notice to end a contract
Deposits typically one to three months — must be returned within 14 days of leaving
The Huurcommissie (rental tribunal) can resolve disputes about rent and deposits for free
Student housing through universities (SSH, DUWO) is far safer than private rentals — apply early
🇫🇷 France — Formal But Protective |
Eviction is very difficult — a legal process required and can take months, even for legitimate cases
Landlords must provide an état des lieux (condition report) when you move in and out
Deposits capped at one month's rent for unfurnished, two months for furnished
CROUS student housing is government-managed and much more secure than private rentals
CAF housing allowance (APL) can reduce your rent significantly — apply as soon as you arrive
🇬🇧 United Kingdom — Weaker Protections, Higher Risk |
Landlords can issue a Section 21 'no fault' eviction notice — ending your tenancy without giving a reason
Rent increases are not capped in most of England — landlords can raise rent significantly between contracts
Deposits must be protected in a government scheme — check which scheme yours is registered in
Illegal eviction (changing locks, removing belongings) is a criminal offence — contact Shelter UK or your local council
If you study in the UK, always use your university's accommodation service if possible, and know where Shelter UK is before you need it
7. Try University Housing First - Always
Private landlords are a last resort, not a first choice. Every university in Germany, the Netherlands, and France offers official student housing, and these options come with protections that private rentals do not.
Apply for student housing as soon as you receive your university offer — waiting lists can be long, ranging from 6 to 12 months
Student housing is cheaper, closer to campus, and managed by organisations with legal obligations to students
Most universities also have emergency housing available if a student suddenly loses accommodation
Your university's International Student Office or Student Union knows local rental law — contact them before signing any private contract
💡 SMART MOVE Many European universities offer short-term emergency accommodation for students who have lost their housing — even for a few nights while you find something new. Find out where this is located in your city before you ever need it. It costs nothing to know, and it could save everything if the worst happens. |
8. When Things Go Wrong - Who to Call
If you find yourself in a housing crisis — locked out, threatened, or scammed — here is your sequence of actions:
1 | Do not leave your belongings unattended if you have been locked out — stay present if it is safe to do so |
2 | Contact your university's International Student Office or Student Union immediately |
3 | Contact a local tenant rights organisation — in Germany: Mieterverein, in the Netherlands: Huurteam, in the UK: Shelter |
4 | Document everything — photographs, screenshots of messages, dates and times of every incident |
5 | Contact local housing authorities or police if there is an illegal eviction — this is a criminal matter in most countries |
6 | If you need somewhere to sleep tonight, contact your university's emergency housing service |
Your Rental Checklist
✅ | I have a signed rental contract before paying anything or moving in |
✅ | My contract states rent, deposit, notice period, and what is included |
✅ | I photographed and video-recorded every room on move-in day |
✅ | I sent those photos to my landlord by email with a timestamp |
✅ | I have a written receipt for my deposit |
✅ | I know whether my deposit is registered in a protected scheme |
✅ | I know the name and contact of my country's tenant support organisation |
✅ | I know where my university's emergency housing service is |
✅ | I report all repair requests in writing, not just verbally |
✅ | I keep a copy of my contract somewhere other than my phone |
Your home abroad is your foundation. Protect it with the same seriousness you protect your education. |
