Housing

Due to the high demand for student housing in Reykjavík, finding a room or apartment on your own can take up some time and effort. It is important to take this into consideration and start your search early. Students should ALWAYS have a signed lease and NEVER pay rent or a deposit to the landlord before having signed a lease.

A few tips:

• Start looking for housing early
• Get in touch with other exchange students looking for accommodation by joining our Facebook group for incoming exchange students
• Consider booking a hostel or Airbnb for a few days after you arrive in Iceland where you can continue your search for a permanent accommodation
• Increase your chances of finding housing by extending your search to suburban areas or to surrounding towns, such as Seltjarnarnes, Kópavogur, Garðabær and Hafnarfjörður. These places may be more affordable, and the university campus can be reached within 30 minutes by bus.
• Always have a signed lease
• Never pay rent or deposit to the landlord before having received a signed contract

The Student Housing Office offers a limited supply of on-campus housing for students at the University of Iceland. You can apply all year round and it is recommended to do so once you have submitted your study application. 

University of Iceland partners with Housing Anywhere where students can sign-up to an online searching and booking platform for booking accommodation.

Users can search accommodation options from the private rental market as well as rooms that our outgoing exchange students are subletting. Registered students at the University of Iceland get priority access and a special badge in their profile which helps the advertisers identify university students. 

This platform offers a secure option for students. The first month´s rent and a booking fee is paid to Housing Anywhere, that transfers it to the advertiser after student has had a chance to view the room and moved in.  

Sign-up form

In Iceland it is normal to pay a deposit when renting accommodation. Students should never pay rent or deposit to the landlord before having signed a lease. 

The lease defines some of the rights and obligations of the tenant and the landlord. It includes the amount the tenant must pay and the conditions for moving-in and moving-out. Check if utilities (heating, electricity, internet, etc.) are included in the monthly rent. 

Leasing contract in English
The Rent Act, No. 36/1994

Students looking for accommodation on the private market should be aware of potential fraudulent housing offers. It is important to never transfer money before having a signed lease. 

Before signing a lease:

• View the property before signing the lease or transferring money to the landlord 
• Use common sense; if the rent seems too good to be true, it may a scam. Make certain that the rental agreement and the property are in sync 
• 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

Do not:

• Do not pay in cash, and make sure that the funds are transferred to an Icelandic bank account. This ensures that you will always 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
• If the landlord is pressuring you to sign the lease or transfer funds before you are confident that you have all the information you need to make an informed decision, take this as a red flag
• Finally, paying under the table is illegal. Hold onto receipts or proof of payment in case something goes wrong

We remind students of the on-campus student housing options, and of the Housing Anywhere platform.