Accommodation
The IBA manages some accommodation that is rented out directly to international exchange students. The number of these apartments is limited and they are allocated on a strictly first come first served’ basis. These apartments are not necessarily furnished but in Kolding there are several places where you can buy second hand furniture and kitchen utensils.
Important:
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IBA will reserve apartments for incoming students only if before 1st July they pay to the IBA a reservation/apartment fee (3,500 DKK – Danish Kroner). If you have reserved and apartment and decide not to take the reserved apartment IBA will not refund this fee.
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Most apartments are 1 room apartments approximately 15-25 m2 + kitchen and bathroom at a monthly rent of around 4,200 DKK including water, heating and electricity. It can be rented to two students so the rent is shared (2,100 DKK each) but in this case you are both equally liable for the full rent: in other words, if one of the two of you moves out, the one remaining in the apartment is liable for the full rent unless and until another sharer can be found – or after the 3 month notice period is up.
If you don’t reserve and rent an apartment through IBA you should note that in Denmark it is customary for landlords to ask for a deposit of 3 months’ rent. Apartments are redecorated every time a tenant leaves and the cost is deducted from your deposit. Therefore, even though you should of course keep the flat as clean and tidy as possible in order to minimise the amount deducted from the deposit, you must still expect to ‘lose’ a large proportion of it - possibly around two thirds. Therefore, you should „factor this in“ when calculating the total you’ll be paying in rent.
When you get your apartment you must sign a contract regarding your apartment (tenancy agreement). This contract is binding and when you want to move out you must give notice to the landlord 3 three months in advance before the first of a month. In this period you do of course still pay rent. The landlord will always expect that you are out of the apartment 14 days before the final date so that he has time to redecorate the apartment - please know that under the Danish rental system you need to pay 2 weeks rent after you vacate the flat. The amount to cover the redecoration and repair broken items (if any) is taken from your deposit and you will receive the remaining amount hereafter (if you leave the apartment as you got it and you didn’t break anything you will probably get around half of the deposit). If you rent an IBA apartment you may expect that it is clean but not fresh painted which is also why you don’t pay the three months deposit to IBA.
Heating, electricity and water: You pay a fixed amount every month (heating and water is probably included in the rent, you can see that in your contract). But you must know that if you use too much you must cover the missing amount. If you rent an IBA apartment heating, water and electricity is included in the rent but any extra usage will be invoiced.
If you choose to have a TV, PC or mobile, you’ll need to buy a radio/tv licence. Read about
media license.
Accommodation is mostly let unfurnished, but it should be possible to buy new or used furniture/kitchen utensils for around 3000-4000 dkk.
If you don’t want to reserve an IBA apartment but want want to find an apartment yourself you can use the “apartment application system“ which is a database run by Kolding City administration for students in Kolding:
www.studentkolding.dk.
