A lot of these things I learned of from experience or hearing other people's experiences.
In this post I'll share some tips in your search for an apartment.
When to start looking for an apartment
You might want to start looking for an apartment really early, but you should do quite the opposite. Sometimes apartments will only become available a few weeks before the start of your studies.
You should also be in Riga before signing any contracts to avoid being scammed. It is important to go view the apartment before you sign anything. If someone is pressuring you into signing a contract before viewing, they're most likely trying to scam you.
Starting too early might also leave you signing a contract for an apartment that you don't like in the end.
Websites and platforms to use
There are a few places you can find housing.
Online
Some people opt to rent from companies to avoid being scammed. One possible option is vestabalt.lv.
Facebook
You can also find rentals on Facebooks. There are many groups, which you can find by searching "Student Accommodations in Riga" on Facebook. If you're Finnish, RiSLO has a Facebook group where people might post their landlords and apartments that are about to become available.
Own apartment or shared housing?
This divides opinions. Both have their perks. If you're moving out of home for the first time, it might be better to move into shared housing, since you'll be living with other students who can help you with adjusting to living away from home. If you've already lived alone for some time, it might be nice to get your own apartment. It's all down to preference. A lot of people post their shared apartments on Facebook groups and the semester group on WhatsApp, so it's easy to find them. It will also be more affordable, as you're sharing the cost of utilities and pay less for a room. You might also be living in a better location for way cheaper than if you lived there alone.
I opted for living alone, as I already had a lot of furniture from Finland. But apartments in Riga mostly come pre-furnished, so don't worry about bringing your own furniture. It will be way easier if you have less stuff to bring with.
Common rental scams in Latvia
This is what people fear the most. There are some red flags to look out for when finding a place to live:
- Asking for a deposit before a viewing
- Apartments that look too cheap for the location
- Landlords who refuse contracts
- Pressure to “decide immediately”
Sometimes, "landlords" will list apartments on sites like ss.lv that they don't even own. If you send a deposit and sign the contract and go see the apartment finally, you'll notice that the apartment is already occupied by someone completely different. Then the landlord will mysteriously disappear. This is why you don't sign anything, and definitely do not send any money before seeing the apartment.
Where in Riga to get an apartment?
This is the general area students usually live in in Riga.
Centrs is the most common place, because it's close to stores, quiet and close to tram and bus lines. If moving here, make sure there is no bar underneath your apartment, because it will get loud.
Old town is also close to tram and bus lines and stores, but there are some down sides:
- homeless people
- not as safe at night
- very loud especially in warmer months since a lot of people are partying
My first year I lived in Old town (Vecriga). It was a nice experience, because it's close to everything. I can walk 6 minutes and get to any bar, to the store, to Origo mall, to the gym, and bus and tram lines. Although, every night in the warmer months I would wake up to people yelling in the streets because they're drunk. Whenever I'd walk outside I'd also see a lot of homeless people. Also, water in Old town is significantly worse quality because the pipes are old. The apartments are also old, so utilities end up costing closer to 180€ in the winter months.
Utilities
What surprised me about living in Riga was how utilities work.
In my apartment building:
Electricity, heating, and other utilities are not handled individually, like it would be in Finland.
I cannot choose my electricity provider.
Costs are not based on personal usage.
Total building usage is divided based on apartment size.
I live alone in a 43 m² apartment and use very little electricity. Still, during winter months, I have paid around 180€ per month in utilities because families with children in the same building use far more energy. This system is common in Latvia, but it was unfamiliar to me and something I wish I had known beforehand.
Which side of the river to live on?
There's 2 sides of the Daugava river that people move to: the university side, and the centre side.
The university side is cheaper and closer to the university. But it is less developed, harder to navigate by foot, and there's less to do. If moving to the university side of the river, I recommend Āgenskalns (close to the Tirgus AKA market), or the dorms next to the university. The dorms at Āgenskalns look like a prison, so I would not recommend... There are some horror stories I've heard from there...
The centre side of the river is more expensive and further from the university. It's around 25-35 minutes by tram/bus to the university main building. There is much more to do, and the centre is more developed. In the wintertime the centre is decorated beautifully. And whenever there are events, they are usually in the centre or old town. I'd recommend the centre (or possibly old town) if you want to go to cafés or otherwise spend time outside home and university.
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