News item | 08-09-2022 | 06:00
To reduce the shortage of student housing in the Netherlands, the cabinet, together with municipalities, educational institutions, housing associations, private investors and students, is today presenting the National Student Housing Action Plan 2022-2030. With this action plan, the parties want to achieve an expansion of 60,000 affordable student housing over a period of 8 years. In addition to building extra affordable student housing, there is also a focus on new management options to get a better grip on the influx of international students.
Minister De Jonge for Housing and Spatial Planning: ‘Every student should be given the opportunity to move into a room. It is a special moment to leave the parental home and take the step towards independence. But for many it is simply a necessary condition if you want to study in a city far from your home. Sufficient student housing is required to be able to make this choice. That is why we are joining forces with various parties to build 60,000 extra affordable student housing over the next 8 years.’
Minister Dijkgraaf of Education, Culture and Science: ‘It is clear to me that something must be done about the shortage of rooms. It costs students a lot of time, stress and energy to get a room, if they succeed or they decide to continue living at home. While a student room is so important. There you will find the peace and space to discover who you are and what you want to do with your life. Every student deserves such a place. With this action plan we can work together to tackle the major challenges surrounding student housing.’
Increasing the offer
The aim is to realize 60,000 student units in 8 years by building new buildings and by encouraging better use of existing buildings through landlady rental. Efforts are also being made to accelerate the construction of more flex homes 37,500 in the period 2022-2024.
Agreements have been made with municipalities about housing students in surrounding municipalities in the region and (temporary) accommodation on campus. The cabinet is also investing €37 million through an incentive scheme for housing for special groups, which also pays for student housing.
An affordable student residence
Students still too often have to deal with too high rents and poor housing. In June 2021, the bill on good landlordship was submitted to the House of Representatives, laying down a basic standard for general rules that landlords must adhere to. Municipalities are thus given the opportunity to enforce excessive rents by including in the permit conditions that landlords are expected to adhere to the maximum rents in accordance with the home valuation system.
It has been agreed with all parties to develop guidelines within a year after signing to achieve affordable housing for students. In addition, municipalities draw up a suitable land allocation policy for affordable student housing and are committed to the realization of affordable student housing on land and in buildings of third parties.
Absorb the peak load and improve the legal position of international students
For part of the group of international students, higher education institutions reserve student housing at student housing providers, hostels and hotels or set up temporary facilities to accommodate students. Despite this, students are sometimes forced to temporarily stay at a campsite or they choose to terminate their studies. To cope with the peak load, better information is needed to students about accommodation. The direct housing needs of international students mean that they are more likely to be victims of housing market discrimination. The form of the leases (short stay) has as an obstacle that they have less legal protection. In order to improve the position of international students, it is agreed to realize a suitable rental contract for international students, to provide more transparency in the rent and to investigate alternative rental methods.
More grip on the influx
The housing shortage for students will increase sharply in the coming years due to the growth in the number of students. In particular, the number of international students is growing. The demand for affordable rooms and the pressure on the affordable housing stock are so great that the solution does not only lie in new construction. That is why more control is needed on the influx of international students with more control options for educational institutions. At the beginning of next year, Minister Dijkgraaf will propose such statutory steering instruments to the House of Representatives. These should enable universities and colleges of higher education to control the influx of international students in a targeted manner, without jeopardizing the benefits of internationalization. An Administrative Agreement on this was recently concluded with the universities.