Looking to rent an apartment in Budapest? Here is some helpful advice!

What are the experiences of young people looking for a place to live? And what does the real estate agent advise?

After the enrolment point limits required to get into university were revealed, prices for renting an apartment have gone up even more. Student have more and more trouble paying for the ever-increasing apartments; most students have to work besides applying for the highest possible amount of student loan, according to RTL Fókusz, writes szeretlekmagyarorszag.hu.

Three times as many students apply for dorms in Budapest as the dormitories’ capacities, and two-thirds of dormitories in other cities are filled entirely as well.

A lot of students have to live in small places or share their place with others to be able to afford it, not to mention the long and unpleasant search.

“A room is €230 plus overhead expenses,” says a young adult. A studio apartment is around €370, but not the best. Before the start of school in September, the number of people looking for apartments normally increases by 20% and the market expands as well, according to an expert. These two factors may result in an increase in prices. He also warns to carefully read the contracts, maybe even have a lawyer take a look.

People should also be careful with the wording and photos of advertisement. In some cases, ads differ from reality. Half-off offers and sales might also be problematic.

Are foreigners buying all the real estate in Hungary? Find out HERE.

Small spaces – as small as six to seven square meters – without windows, are also advertised as rooms, which would be “ugly even for a closet,” explains a student, desperate to finally find a place to live. “I don’t even care about the location anymore, just let the apartment be normal,” Dóra says.

A real estate agent showed a regular university student apartment. It is 38 square meters, has a bathroom, kitchen, living room and a smaller room. He explains that two people could live here sharing the living room area as a bedroom and leave the smaller room as a study, or even a third person could move in there “if they really wanted a dorm vibe.”

He also says that the social and financial background of the students matter as well. “If someone can rent out an apartment on their own for 130,000 forints (€400), then they will,” Péter Jóna says. He adds that groups of friends, who already know each other well may already look for a place to share, this way they only have to pay half, or even third the price.

Source: https://www.szeretlekmagyarorszag.hu/