Should you prebook erasmus housing or wait until the last minute? We compare price, safety, and stress to help you make the best choice for your semester abroad. Getting accepted into an Erasmus program is one of the most exciting moments of your university life. You start dreaming about the parties, the new friends, and the travel. But then, reality hits: you need a place to live.
This brings up the big question every international student faces. Should you prebook erasmus housing months in advance, or is it smarter to wait until you arrive to find a place?
The answer isn't always black and white, but getting it wrong can add unnecessary stress to your semester abroad. In this guide, we will break down the pros and cons of prebooking erasmus housing versus taking the risk with last-minute student renting, so you can make the right choice for your lifestyle and budget.
Prebooking involves reserving your room or apartment weeks, or even months, before your plane touches down in your destination city. It’s the standard approach for students who want to have everything organized before they pack their bags.
For most students, booking early offers significant advantages:
The main hesitation students have with prebooking erasmus housing is the inability to view the apartment in person. You are relying on photos, videos, and descriptions. This requires trust, which is why using verified platforms like Pepe Housing is so important. It also forces you to make a financial commitment early in the process.
Last-minute renting is the strategy of waiting until only a few days or weeks remain before the semester starts, or even booking a hostel for your first week and searching for a flat after you arrive.
While it sounds risky, there are two main reasons some students choose this path:
The risks of last-minute student renting often outweigh the benefits:
Geography plays a massive role in your decision. Some housing markets are forgiving, while others are brutal battlegrounds for tenants.
If you are heading to major student hubs, finding student housing Europe without a reservation is incredibly difficult. We strongly recommend booking months in advance for:
In smaller university towns or less competitive hubs, you might get away with arriving without a contract. However, you are still gambling with the quality of accommodation you will end up with.
After helping thousands of students settle into their new lives abroad, the verdict is clear.
Prebooking is recommended for 95% of Erasmus students.
The stability, safety, and choice you get by securing your home early far outweigh the benefit of seeing a flat in person - provided you book through a trusted source. Last-minute student renting should only be reserved for students with flexible budgets and high risk tolerance.
Starting your semester with safe accommodation Erasmus style means you can focus on what really matters: your studies and your social life.
We understand that booking a room in a foreign country can be scary. You can't visit the flat, and you don't know the landlord. That’s where Pepe Housing comes in.
We bridge the gap between prebooking and safety. We offer:
Pepe Housing stands out as the official and exclusive housing partner of ESN Poland. This international housing platform specializes in helping Erasmus and international students find safe, verified accommodation across Poland, Hungary, and Spain.
Whether you are looking for a room in Warsaw, Krakow, Gdansk, Wroclaw, Budapest, Riga, or Barcelona, we make it easy to prebook with confidence. Don't leave your semester abroad to chance - secure your home today. prebook erasmus housing prebook erasmus housing prebook erasmus housing prebook erasmus housing prebook erasmus housing prebook erasmus housing prebook erasmus housing
