How to Address the Student Housing Crisis?

Our student crisis series is coming to an end! In our last article, we will focus on the student housing crisis. We’ll see how it impacts student well-being and engagement and we’ll share concrete tips to improve the situation. 

The housing crisis in Europe 

“Unaffordable housing is a matter of great concern in the EU. It leads to homelessness, housing insecurity, financial strain and inadequate housing. It also prevents young people from leaving their family home. These problems affect people’s health and well-being, embody unequal living conditions and opportunities, and result in healthcare costs, reduced productivity and environmental damage.” - Hans Dubois and Sana Nivakoski.¹

This means that students have to face:

• Housing shortages and insufficient provision
• Rise in rent prices, especially in bigger European cities where most higher education institutions are located
• A universal lack of vacancies on the housing market 

Not only does the situation affect students’ health, well-being and academic performance, but it also impacts international student mobility and, more importantly, it’s leaving some students homeless.

“A lack of affordable housing can impact the academic, health and well-being of students, as they face not only a high level of stress, but also a socio-economic burden that can further marginalise them and reproduce social hierarchies, and class, gender, racialised or ageist divides.” - Luisa Sotomayor (Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change).²

Some key stats about the situation in Europe 

In Europe:

• The average housing provision rate across cities is currently 12.5%³
• According to a survey that interviewed 3,000 students⁴, 11% are facing homelessness

In the UK:

• Rent has jumped by more than 8% overall in 2023⁵
• 63% of students struggle to find the money to pay accommodation costs⁶

But how much is student accommodation in Europe? Rent for all student accommodation types are increasing rapidly, especially in bigger cities like Paris, London, Rotterdam or Milan. The monthly average rental price varies between €1,289 (Munich) and €1,964 (Paris). European citizens have been struggling with the housing crisis even before the pandemic, spending over 40% of their money on housing.

How can institutions best support students? 

The student housing crisis in Europe is big, as you can see from the stats above. Higher education institutions can play a crucial role in helping students face these challenges. Here are some of the best practices to implement: 

• Collaborate with local authorities and private sector players to create affordable and accessible student housing options. Public-private partnerships help increase the availability of housing near campus.
• Provide a range of housing options to suit different student needs and budgets. This may include apartments, shared housing, and even homestays. 
• Offer financial assistance programs and scholarships specifically for housing. 
• Offer a dedicated housing office or advisory service to assist students in finding safe and affordable housing. It can provide resources, guidance, and connections to landlords or housing agencies.
• Support your international students. Offer orientation programs including information on housing, assistance with paperwork, and connections to local resources.
• Regularly assess the housing situation of your students and adapt your strategies accordingly.

Do you want to know more about the student crisis? 

📢 Join our webinar on November 20th at 11am GMT. Together with our partner the University of Birmingham, we’ll talk about how to address this crisis and best support students during challenging times. Register here.

💡 For more stats and resources on the topic, visit our website.

¹ eurofund.europa.eu

²  www.news.yorku.ca

³ Savills, October 2022  

⁴ Housing Insevurity Report, November 2022

⁵ The Guardian, September 2023

⁶ Save the Student, February 2023