How it works
One protected flow, from abroad to move-in
SemesterStay sits between students and hosts so nobody has to trust a stranger with a semester of rent. Here is the whole flow, both sides.
For students
Book a room you've never seen — safely
- 1
Search by semester
Pick your semester and university. Every listing shows the transit time to your campus and a curated guide to its neighborhood, so you know what you're booking sight-unseen.
- 2
Send a request
Message a verified host through the platform. Hosts respond within 72h or the request expires — and contact details stay masked until a booking is paid.
- 3
Pay through the platform
Once approved, pay the first month through SemesterStay — no added fees for students. We hold it; the host receives nothing yet. The deposit goes straight to the host's bank account, and both of you confirm it on the booking page.
- 4
Move in protected
The host is only paid 48h after check-in. If the room doesn't match the listing, report it inside that window and your money comes back.
- 5
Rent on autopay
The remaining months are charged automatically, month by month. No envelopes of cash, no chasing — and at move-out the host's last payout stays held until your deposit is settled.
For hosts
Fill the semester, keep the summer
- 1
Verify once
Upload your ID and proof of ownership — or a lease with the right to sublet. One review by our team and you're cleared to list.
- 2
List your furnished units
Describe the layout — bedrooms, beds, bathrooms, toilets and how many people the place is meant for — then set semester-aligned availability, rent and deposit. Only furnished, ready-to-live-in places can be listed: an equipped kitchen, a bed and wardrobe in every bedroom, internet included. Order a physical inspection if you want the Verified by SemesterStay badge.
- 3
Approve a student
Requests arrive with a verified student profile and the exact months. Approve the one that fits — the student then pays upfront through the platform.
- 4
Get paid after the protection window
The first payout — first rent minus the 5% commission — is released 48h after the student checks in.
- 5
Monthly payouts
Each following month's rent is collected from the student and paid out to you, minus the 5% commission. The deposit is yours to hold for the stay; your last payout is released once it is settled at check-out.
Fees
What it costs
No listing fees, no subscriptions — SemesterStay earns only when a booking happens.
Students pay
€0
No service fees, no booking fees. You pay exactly the rent and deposit the host lists — nothing on top.
Hosts pay
5%
Commission on each rent payment, deducted before the payout reaches your account.
Semester calendar
The months we book around
Listings are offered per semester; hosts usually keep July and August for themselves. Pick a semester when you search, or a custom month range.
- Winter 2026/27Sep 2026 – Jan 2027
- Summer 2027Feb 2027 – Jun 2027
- Winter 2027/28Sep 2027 – Jan 2028
- Summer 2028Feb 2028 – Jun 2028
Questions
Good to know
Why are some listings marked "EU only"?
Czech hosts have administrative reporting duties when they accommodate non-EU nationals — every non-EU tenant has to be registered with the foreign police. Some hosts prefer to avoid that paperwork, so they switch their listing to EU only. Non-EU students still see these listings in search, but can't send a request for them.
Are the places furnished?
Always. Every SemesterStay home is let furnished and ready to live in — you arrive with your suitcases and sleep there the same night. The host confirms the standard for each place:
- Equipped kitchen. Cooker or hob, fridge, sink and basic cookware, plates and cutlery the student can use from day one.
- Bed and wardrobe in every bedroom. A real bed with a mattress and a wardrobe (or a closet) for each bedroom — for a shared room, one of each per bed.
- Internet included. Working Wi-Fi in the flat, included in the rent — students study, call home and sit exams online.
Every listing shows the bedrooms, beds, bathrooms and toilets, and how many people the host means the place for. Unfurnished flats cannot be listed: that is the nature of a semester stay, and it is what keeps SemesterStay an accommodation service rather than a real-estate agency.
How is the deposit handled?
The deposit goes straight from the student to the host by bank transfer — SemesterStay never holds it. Both sides confirm it on the booking page. After move-out the host returns it in full, unless they file a deduction with evidence; deductions are reviewed by our team, and either side can dispute the outcome. Until the deposit is settled, the host's last payout of the stay stays held — that is the student's guarantee.
What does "Verified by SemesterStay" mean?
Every host passes document checks — ID plus proof of ownership. The inspection badge goes further: our local team physically visited the property and confirmed that the photos, size and amenities match the listing against a standard checklist.
What if something is wrong at check-in?
Your payment is held until 48h after check-in. Report a problem inside that window and the payout is paused — if the room genuinely doesn't match the listing, you get a refund and help finding another place.