Housing

• Start looking for housing early
• Get in touch with other students looking for accommodation by joining our Facebook group for international students at the UI
• Consider booking a hostel or Airbnb for a few days after you arrive in Iceland where you can continue your search for long-term accommodation
• Increase your chances of finding housing by extending your search to suburban areas or surrounding towns, such as Seltjarnarnes, Kópavogur, Garðabær and Hafnarfjörður. These places may be more affordable and the University campus will only be around 30 minutes away by bus.
• Always have a signed lease

The Student Housing Office offers a limited supply of on-campus housing for students at UI, called Stúdentagarðar. You can apply all year round and it is recommended that you do so after submitting your application to study at UI.

Go to the Student Housing Office website to find more information, view available housing and apply.

To book your rentals in Reykjavik before your arrival, University of Iceland recommends HousingAnywhere, the rental platform for international students. Through HousingAnywhere you can safely book your new room, offered by verified private and professional landlords. 
 
To receive a 20% discount on the booking fee, a VIP profile and priority access to the listings in Reykjavik, first sign up 
then before paying add this promo code: UOIC20

Please note: First you will have to pay the entire price and then receive the discount back on the card you used to book. 
 
You can find information about finding your new place on the how it works page.

Do you need more information or have a specific question? Send an email to vip@housinganywhere.com.

The Students' Building Association company rents housing to students in Iceland throughout the capital area. Monthly rent is from 120,000 ISK.

101 House offers accommodation, both apartments and rooms, in the centre of Reykjavík.

In Iceland it is normal to pay a deposit when renting accommodation. You should never pay rent or a deposit to the landlord before signing a lease, unless you are renting through The Student Housing Office. 

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 signing a 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 be a scam. Make certain that the property matches the rental agreement
• Inspect the property at the start of the rental period and document any preexisting flaws or damage. Take photographs and share them with your landlord to limit your liability at the end of the lease

Points to watch out for

• 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