Job Discussion Forums

[EvilTwin2000]

...how did you find your first place to live? Did the school alert you to other teachers looking for a room-mate, or at least teachers with a short-term couch? Are there housing opportunites posted on boards at the language schools (or elsewhere)? Did you have to use a real live real estate agent? What exactly are the possibilities and likelihoods? And with what legal formalities (a lease? a handshake and a wad of cash? all of the above?)?

How much time elapsed between your arrival and the time you had a place to live? And what did you do in the meantime--hostels? Hotels would break the piggy bank pretty quickly.

I have a hard time believing it's as simple to rent an apartment abroad as it would be at home. Especially if you'll need to find a roommate to stay financially afloat. And when it all needs to happen asap.

These seem like considerations it might be easy for a newbie to overlook and under-budget for. I'd really appreciate hearing how people dealt with this situation, and in what time frame.

By the way, is this situation--of not including housing--the norm in western Europe? Thank you.

[spiral78]

Eviltwin: you are correct that housing is not normally provided in Western Europe.

Yes, it's more difficult to deal with real estate issues in a foreign country, particularly if you don't speak the local language. Hence, the need for either some assistance from your school, and/or an agent (who will have to be paid, obviously). The norm in most places, I think, is one month's rent as security, first month's rent up front, and the equivalent of a month's rent + VAT for an agent. Depending on where you're going, housing costs can really be up to 50% of wages for an English teacher.

When you are in negotiations with a school, it pays off to ask what assistance they can give with getting your housing arranged. At the very least, they should hook you up with other teachers who have been thru the process.

Start-up costs are really something to consider when thinking of teaching abroad. Also remember that schools generally pay monthly, at the END of the month worked...

[Glenski]

Many/Most conversation schools in Japan might have something from a previous teacher. So that helps. But even if that is not the case, many/most will help look for something. Teachers can stay in guesthouses (like boarding homes) until something is secured.

[naturegirl321]

I was dragged all over the city by my boss until I found a decent place.

And she paid for it. I just paid utlities. Which wasn't much since water was shut off all day except for an hour.