If you are anything like me when I was preparing to move to Tartu, you may be hoping to hear about the best tips and tricks to finding great accommodation from the perspective of someone who has gone through it. If this is you, be sure to read on.
Although it can appear to be a daunting task, finding student accommodation in Tartu is generally quite a straightforward and user-friendly process. As I see it, there are three main avenues that you can use to find a place in Tartu:
1. Dormitories
University of Tartu has (in the city of Tartu) eight dormitory options to pick from for incoming students. While each has something good to offer newcomers to Estonia, Raatuse 22 houses the highest percentage of international students. You can expect to hear a variety of languages being spoken in the halls and common areas of this building (including the table tennis area and lounge with TV projector). Most of Raatuse 22’s rooms feature a suite-style arrangement. These are made up of three rooms, each accommodating two students, that share a common kitchen, shower, and toilet area. In Raatuse 22, unlike other dormitory buildings, the shower and toilet rooms are separate. Each bedroom enjoys large windows that fully open to maximally enjoy the clean Tartu air. For current prices and application information, head to Campus.ee. (Expert tip: It is always recommended to apply as soon as the window opens!)
Layout of a typical room in Raatuse 22
2. Private Rentals through Real-Estate Websites
If the dormitories don’t suit your needs, you’re likely to be satisfied by the plethora of options available to you via the many estate websites in Estonia. From kv.ee to kinnisvara24, these websites are the go-to listing mechanism for renting and buying homes in Estonia. Convenient search tools allow users to filter by price, location, number of rooms, type of heating, and more. Some apartments can only be heated with a wood-burning furnace, so be aware of which kind you’re looking at! My favorite feature is the interactive map which shows you where listings that fit your criteria are located within the city.
KV.EE’s map interface showing listings
(Expert tip: it is common practice in Tartu for apartment owners to employ brokers to advertise their properties. In such cases, the tenant must pay a non-refundable broker fee, usually equivalent to one month’s rent. If you want to avoid this, you can simply sort by “only private users”. You can also look for the #Directly-from-owner hashtag).
Once you find a location you’re interested in, you can simply contact the owner/broker using the contact section at the bottom of the page. You can expect a response relatively quickly year-round, although the end of summer is the peak period for signing a lease on a new apartment! If you are in Tartu, it would be wise to arrange for an in-person tour of the property. Otherwise, you can ask for a virtual tour via a video call.
3. Private Rentals through Facebook Marketplace
If you prefer, the third avenue for acquiring housing is to comb through the listings on Facebook Marketplace. While the search tools here are not as robust or specialized as the previous options, Facebook is a lively and well-used utility in Estonia. This means that while it may take a bit more effort to find an ideal fit for your needs, there is likely to be more “hidden gem” opportunities to be found here.
Expert tip: it is common practice in Estonia for private apartments to be fully furnished with all the essential furniture one needs before moving in. However, it is always best to confirm this.
Search filters available through Facebook
Whichever method you use, there is a wide variety of properties available for rent in Tartu. As Estonia’s youth capital and student city, the options are frequently wide open. Happy hunting!
Cover image taken from visitEstonia website (click here)
All images are the author’s own unless specified otherwise.
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