The private housing system is for families and individuals who prefer their apartments. You are required to have confirmed your place on a course or programme (including payment) to access this service.

There are 3 methods to secure private housing:

[METHOD 1]
A representative presents options to you according to your criteria, you arrive in Egypt, stay in a hotel for 1-3 days and look at the options personally and make payment. 

[METHOD 2]
A representative presents options to you according to your criteria, you make a choice whilst abroad and make your booking (similar to booking a hotel/Airbnb). 

[METHOD 3]
You opt for serviced accommodation. Pricing is per person (the same system as the regular student accommodation except the apartment would be occupied by you). The price paid would include utilities, maintenance and internet. 

The notes below concern METHOD 1 and 2.

THE PROCESS

  • Send your requirements and specifications least 2 weeks in advance of your arrival to allow enough time to search. You should give a minimum and maximum for your rental budget. 
  • Our representative will search and propose apartments according to your criteria. Choose 2-3 apartments for viewing. 

  • You should arrive AT LEAST 3 days before the start date of the programme and stay in a hotel/apartment. During these days, you will be shown your selected apartments by a representative.

  • The representative can view up to 3 of the apartments of your choice with you or on your behalf. If you wish to see more than those proposed, you may visit more with the broker, and let the representative know once you make a choice and they will close the deal for you (if you prefer). Alternatively, if you want the representative to view more apartments, you would be required to pay an additional fee of £8 per additional apartment viewing. 

 

GENERAL NOTES ON HOUSING

  • Rent differs depending on the number of bedrooms, location, apartment size, furniture quality etc. You can ask the representative to give a recommended budget if you are unsure.
  • You must keep in mind that you are limited to what the property market offers you at the time of searching – sometimes you will have to make compromises – especially during peak season. Apartments become available and unavailable in a matter of moments.
  • Rent is higher in peak seasons like the summer. We will negotiate the best price for you where possible
  • When opting for private housing, you are responsible for covering utility bills, internet, and building maintenance fees. 

Long-term rental

Upon choosing the apartment, you are expected to pay the following:

  • Broker fees – Equals to a month’s rent (brokers are usually used in Egypt to find houses). This fee is waived if we manage to get an apartment directly from a landlord.
  • Security deposit – Equals to a month’s rent (in exceptional circumstances, the landlord may ask for 2 months, especially for foreigners) – you may or may not receive this back at the end of your stay – the landlord will look at the apartment and decide.
  • One month’s rent in advance

e.g. If you find an apartment for $500 /month, you will pay $1500 ($500 for the broker, $500 for the security deposit, $500 for the first month’s rent)

Short-term rental

The monthly rent for short stays is higher than for long stays (6 months+). You can pay for apartments by the day or by month (depends on the landlord’s request and your length of stay). 

The broker fees for shorter stays is a percentage of one month’s rental. If the apartment is rented directly from the owner, no broker fees are due. 

RENTING BEFORE ARRIVAL (Method 2)

  • Renting before arrival is only accepted in some circumstances.
  • If you want the apartment to be arranged before you come, you must accept the following:
    • You will have to pay rent from the day you agree to take the apartment and have your deposit for the apartment ready with us beforehand
    • The video/photos taken of the apartment may not be the most accurate depiction of the apartment, especially in terms of size. There may be certain flaws/features that concern you and are unknown to the representative looking at the apartments for you (whether our representative or a third party (broker)) and are not captured by the photos/videos. Tenants must accept this risk in full, with no responsibility on EA.
    • The deposit must be ready with us before the search for the apartment takes place so it is ready for payment as soon as you find the apartment (in Egypt, the house is not reserved for you until you pay the deposit, therefore what you pick can be taken by someone else). Once you pay the deposit, it is not usually refunded by the landlord.