The most scholarly hobo
July 8, 2013 8:17 PM Subscribe
How in the hell does one find housing in (or around, I don't even care) Stockholm? Should I not tell people I am American, am I just having bad luck, or is no one answering my ads just because it's July and everyone is on vacation? I'm beginning to worry about ending up homeless--please help me, Stockholm-based Mefites!
I'm moving to Sweden at the end of August on a fabulous US government grant--but I'm starting to worry I'll end up homeless. I'm aware that housing in Stockholm is a train wreck, horrible critical shortage, I should basically not even bother, etc etc., but I'm moving there for a year no matter what and I desperately need a place to live and I really don't care how far away from central Stockholm it is or even if it's overpriced.
I keep emailing/answering to ads on Blocket (I mean I've answered a lot of them) without a single response and I'm wondering how much it's disqualifying me that I answer in English (I don't speak a word of Swedish), that I apologize for that fact by stating I'm American, and what else I could be doing to help my luck in this regard? I might also be doing it completely wrong since I am using GoogleTranslate to read ads. I want to post a "need rent" ad but I'm afraid that by making it in English I am automatically disqualified somehow, and I also don't know what appeals to Swedes looking for a roommate (I'm obsessively clean, will have a steady salary, seems like a lot of ads are looking for a "well-behaved young woman" which is exactly what I am--does this sound ok?). Should I not tell people I'm American at all? I just want somebody to answer me, even if it's a "no thanks", because this is seriously ridiculous and I'm freaking out.
Am I doomed? What websites can I check or what can I do? I'm well-traveled and I've found housing abroad before but where I lived, people actually answered their "for rent" ads (grrr). Student housing is not an option.
I'm moving to Sweden at the end of August on a fabulous US government grant--but I'm starting to worry I'll end up homeless. I'm aware that housing in Stockholm is a train wreck, horrible critical shortage, I should basically not even bother, etc etc., but I'm moving there for a year no matter what and I desperately need a place to live and I really don't care how far away from central Stockholm it is or even if it's overpriced.
I keep emailing/answering to ads on Blocket (I mean I've answered a lot of them) without a single response and I'm wondering how much it's disqualifying me that I answer in English (I don't speak a word of Swedish), that I apologize for that fact by stating I'm American, and what else I could be doing to help my luck in this regard? I might also be doing it completely wrong since I am using GoogleTranslate to read ads. I want to post a "need rent" ad but I'm afraid that by making it in English I am automatically disqualified somehow, and I also don't know what appeals to Swedes looking for a roommate (I'm obsessively clean, will have a steady salary, seems like a lot of ads are looking for a "well-behaved young woman" which is exactly what I am--does this sound ok?). Should I not tell people I'm American at all? I just want somebody to answer me, even if it's a "no thanks", because this is seriously ridiculous and I'm freaking out.
Am I doomed? What websites can I check or what can I do? I'm well-traveled and I've found housing abroad before but where I lived, people actually answered their "for rent" ads (grrr). Student housing is not an option.
If you're needing to use Google Translate to respond to their ad, then I would assume they are probably not all that comfortable in English and may not really know what to do with a response in English. At the very least they aren't really signing up to conduct a business transaction in English.
I think the idea of posting a Need Rent ad sounds good. I would also specify (if you haven't been) how long you are moving to Stockholm for. If you are just saying you are American then people may be assuming you are just looking for a short-term or vacation rental, and may not want to lease to someone who's likely to be moving out soon. At the least saying "Moving to Stockholm for work" is different than "for a year" or "for the summer" and might help you find the right match.
posted by Lady Li at 9:35 PM on July 8, 2013 [1 favorite]
I think the idea of posting a Need Rent ad sounds good. I would also specify (if you haven't been) how long you are moving to Stockholm for. If you are just saying you are American then people may be assuming you are just looking for a short-term or vacation rental, and may not want to lease to someone who's likely to be moving out soon. At the least saying "Moving to Stockholm for work" is different than "for a year" or "for the summer" and might help you find the right match.
posted by Lady Li at 9:35 PM on July 8, 2013 [1 favorite]
I'd start with finding someone online (your local craigslist, perhaps) to translate your messages into Swedish. Explain at the beginning of the message you speak no Swedish and you're American, etc., etc. but this might help get over the initial hurdle.
Also, you might contact some communities for assistance - for example, if I was going over to Sweden on a Fulbright, I'd contact expat community groups from my home country, schools that have a close relationship with the schools I went to (e.g. lots of exchange programs, etc., asking for an intro from the coordinator at my alma mater), groups that are interested in specialized hobbies I'm interested in, as well as Swedish expats that I'd met at work, school, etc (or even heard of even with a tenuous connection), and yes, the embassy (hey, you never know - this might be the one instance where they are of use).
Also - a quick google supplied some more websites you may want to peruse.
posted by arnicae at 10:06 PM on July 8, 2013
Also, you might contact some communities for assistance - for example, if I was going over to Sweden on a Fulbright, I'd contact expat community groups from my home country, schools that have a close relationship with the schools I went to (e.g. lots of exchange programs, etc., asking for an intro from the coordinator at my alma mater), groups that are interested in specialized hobbies I'm interested in, as well as Swedish expats that I'd met at work, school, etc (or even heard of even with a tenuous connection), and yes, the embassy (hey, you never know - this might be the one instance where they are of use).
Also - a quick google supplied some more websites you may want to peruse.
posted by arnicae at 10:06 PM on July 8, 2013
Best answer: I don't get the impression that writing in English or being American is a problem in Stockholm at all. I think it's more a question of being physically there and able to go check out an apartment at the drop of a hat. I had the same trouble when trying to do that remotely. People with apartment ads on blocket get swamped with calls and take the easiest, fastest option. Beware rental scams on blocket, btw.
Try putting an ad on bostaddirect, it can well be worth the fee also for checking out rentals offered. Are you a student? Then contacting sssb might help. IMHO writing in correct English gives a much better impression than broken google-translate Swedish. Also try thelocal.se, an online magazine for expats, in English. Craigslist doesn't seem to be used much in Sweden.
posted by meijusa at 12:15 AM on July 9, 2013 [3 favorites]
Try putting an ad on bostaddirect, it can well be worth the fee also for checking out rentals offered. Are you a student? Then contacting sssb might help. IMHO writing in correct English gives a much better impression than broken google-translate Swedish. Also try thelocal.se, an online magazine for expats, in English. Craigslist doesn't seem to be used much in Sweden.
posted by meijusa at 12:15 AM on July 9, 2013 [3 favorites]
Are you trying to answer these ads from the US, before you arrive in Sweden? If you cannot visit the apartment, and your potential landlord cannot meet you, and the local demand is already high, your absence from Stockholm at this time will contribute heavily to non-answers.
Do you have the paperwork necessary to rent an apartment in Sweden? It's not a place I've ever lived, but my experience further south is that many newcomers are thrown off by the amount of paperwork you have to show a potential landlord (or agency), and in many cases we don't have it! Proof of local bank account, proof of employment contract, a local co-signer... standards vary by location but these keep a lot of newcomers in Paris in flatshares and sketchy sublets.
What to do? Work your network and any other relevant ones. Check any local American societies. Check anything affiliated with the institution welcoming you. Check online communities where you are a member (couchsurfing city web sites often link people looking for flats, for example). Get as much of a local presence as you can (local phone number?) and gather as many US equivalents of whatever paperwork you need. Don't get desparate: there are lots of scams waiting for people who think they have nowhere else to go (cf. craigslist international - in Paris it's a waste of time).
posted by whatzit at 12:15 AM on July 9, 2013
Do you have the paperwork necessary to rent an apartment in Sweden? It's not a place I've ever lived, but my experience further south is that many newcomers are thrown off by the amount of paperwork you have to show a potential landlord (or agency), and in many cases we don't have it! Proof of local bank account, proof of employment contract, a local co-signer... standards vary by location but these keep a lot of newcomers in Paris in flatshares and sketchy sublets.
What to do? Work your network and any other relevant ones. Check any local American societies. Check anything affiliated with the institution welcoming you. Check online communities where you are a member (couchsurfing city web sites often link people looking for flats, for example). Get as much of a local presence as you can (local phone number?) and gather as many US equivalents of whatever paperwork you need. Don't get desparate: there are lots of scams waiting for people who think they have nowhere else to go (cf. craigslist international - in Paris it's a waste of time).
posted by whatzit at 12:15 AM on July 9, 2013
Writing in English shouldn't be a problem, I'd be more suspicious about an odd Google Translate email than one in English — plenty of autotranslated 419 scams have perhaps hardened people Don't get bummed out by the non-replies though; it's easy to get freaked out being ignored, but when it comes to jobs and apartments in Sweden, it's unfortunately standard practice.
Meijusas link is a good place to start. I'd check with channels that might not be obvious to non-Americans; consulate, expat communities, hobby / sports groups you might join. I found my first room through a vegan forum…
Also, because of the shortage there are scammers who require deposits to apartments they don't own, so to make matters more difficult for you you need to keep that in mind. If there's anyone in situ to act on your behalf to check out apartments, that might help things.
Good luck!
posted by monocultured at 2:16 AM on July 9, 2013
Meijusas link is a good place to start. I'd check with channels that might not be obvious to non-Americans; consulate, expat communities, hobby / sports groups you might join. I found my first room through a vegan forum…
Also, because of the shortage there are scammers who require deposits to apartments they don't own, so to make matters more difficult for you you need to keep that in mind. If there's anyone in situ to act on your behalf to check out apartments, that might help things.
Good luck!
posted by monocultured at 2:16 AM on July 9, 2013
Lady Li: "If you're needing to use Google Translate to respond to their ad, then I would assume they are probably not all that comfortable in English and may not really know what to do with a response in English. At the very least they aren't really signing up to conduct a business transaction in English."
Everyone in Sweden seems to speak and write English better than most Americans, so this is likely not the issue. Especially in and around Stockholm.
posted by Grither at 4:56 AM on July 9, 2013
Everyone in Sweden seems to speak and write English better than most Americans, so this is likely not the issue. Especially in and around Stockholm.
posted by Grither at 4:56 AM on July 9, 2013
You may want to consider a longer-term AirBnB or longer term hotel rental, if you aren't having any luck with a full apartment lease. That might give you a couple of weeks to actually see apartments and meet with landlords in person.
posted by jetlagaddict at 5:39 AM on July 9, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by jetlagaddict at 5:39 AM on July 9, 2013 [1 favorite]
Best answer: We discussed this (West Sweden, so not specifically Stockholm) over coffee and can only confirm various points made here above:
-- The pressure on housing in the cities is so high that if you don't respond instantly to an ad (any ad), and if you're not there to follow up in person, your chances for getting an answer at all are practically nil.
-- English is not a problem. Being American should not be a problem.
-- One avenue would be to try finding housing via personal or future business contacts, if you have any.
-- Otherwise, as jetlagaddict says, establish yourself in some cheap place and tackle your house search in person.
Other than that, your assessment that Sweden is sleeping in July is correct, and may add to your problem.
posted by Namlit at 5:55 AM on July 9, 2013 [1 favorite]
-- The pressure on housing in the cities is so high that if you don't respond instantly to an ad (any ad), and if you're not there to follow up in person, your chances for getting an answer at all are practically nil.
-- English is not a problem. Being American should not be a problem.
-- One avenue would be to try finding housing via personal or future business contacts, if you have any.
-- Otherwise, as jetlagaddict says, establish yourself in some cheap place and tackle your house search in person.
Other than that, your assessment that Sweden is sleeping in July is correct, and may add to your problem.
posted by Namlit at 5:55 AM on July 9, 2013 [1 favorite]
Best answer: I'm so sorry my hometown is being such a pain for you. I've never lived anywhere as impossible as Stockholm - like everyone says here, it's not that you're doing anything particularly wrong, but that the situation is absolutely miserable for everyone. I have known people to look and look and literally only get an apartment either through connections, or because they replied to an ad in the minutes after it was posted, and then showed up, cash in hand, outside of the apartment half an hour later.
Here is another site you might want to use: Kvalster. It trawls through Blocket and other sites dealing in letting, including at least one that you have to pay to access. In your case, it sounds like you need to just pay for membership in those places - I know it sounds like a scam, but it's sadly legit. Want to rent an apartment? You're going to have to pay for the privilege of reading listings and getting contact numbers.
Repeating the advice given above: just communicate in English. Anything Google-translated will come across as totally shady. If you're an American, that's a perfectly good reason to use English. The prejudices people have are more aimed at "immigrants" who speak bad Swedish and come from different cultural backgrounds, so your nationality should actually make it easier for you in some respects.
Also, please be aware that doing the roommate thing is still fairly unusual in Sweden - there is no tradition of sharing dorm rooms in college or anything else like that, so people in general are still adapting to the idea of sharing a space with a person who is not a romantic partner or family member. Definitely not all, but some of the people who are letting out rooms in their homes are the type of people you want to meet in person before you decide you want to give them money to live with them. Plus of course, as mentioned above, be aware of scammers. They're a plague.
Feel free to MeMail me with further questions if you're not on a strict deadline, and I'll be happy to do what I can to help.
posted by harujion at 11:30 AM on July 9, 2013
Here is another site you might want to use: Kvalster. It trawls through Blocket and other sites dealing in letting, including at least one that you have to pay to access. In your case, it sounds like you need to just pay for membership in those places - I know it sounds like a scam, but it's sadly legit. Want to rent an apartment? You're going to have to pay for the privilege of reading listings and getting contact numbers.
Repeating the advice given above: just communicate in English. Anything Google-translated will come across as totally shady. If you're an American, that's a perfectly good reason to use English. The prejudices people have are more aimed at "immigrants" who speak bad Swedish and come from different cultural backgrounds, so your nationality should actually make it easier for you in some respects.
Also, please be aware that doing the roommate thing is still fairly unusual in Sweden - there is no tradition of sharing dorm rooms in college or anything else like that, so people in general are still adapting to the idea of sharing a space with a person who is not a romantic partner or family member. Definitely not all, but some of the people who are letting out rooms in their homes are the type of people you want to meet in person before you decide you want to give them money to live with them. Plus of course, as mentioned above, be aware of scammers. They're a plague.
Feel free to MeMail me with further questions if you're not on a strict deadline, and I'll be happy to do what I can to help.
posted by harujion at 11:30 AM on July 9, 2013
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posted by wintersweet at 9:03 PM on July 8, 2013