News item | 07-09-2023 | 08:11
The National Student Housing Monitor 2023 (LMS) shows that the shortage of student housing in the 20 largest cities has decreased from approximately 27,000 units to more than 23,000 in the past year. This is a turning point because the housing shortage has increased in recent years. This development does not alter the fact that the urgency for more student accommodation remains as great as ever. Hugo de Jonge, Minister of the Interior and Kingdom Relations, Housing and Spatial Planning, writes this to the House about the progress of the National Student Housing Action Plan (LAS) 2022-2030.
Good steps forward
This year, for example, we see that the handling of the peak load at the beginning of the academic year is better organized in the student cities. International students are warned not to come if they don’t have a room, making sure they have already arranged some form of accommodation before their arrival. We also see that great initiatives are emerging that make better use of the current housing stock, as shown by the positively evaluated pilots in Enschede and Wageningen by housing two students in one room. This initiative is also being followed in Nijmegen. In addition, there are various initiatives that are worth mentioning in the field of hospita rental. This can help to cope with the peak load, but also to provide structural accommodation for students.
Student housing director
However, these positive developments do not alter the fact that the urgency for more student accommodation remains as great as ever. The LMS shows that the introduction of the basic grant is expected to lead to a higher demand for rooms, while the supply of student rooms may also decrease. These developments underline the need to continue unabated with the National Student Housing Action Plan. The aim of the action plan is to expand 60,000 affordable student homes in the period 2022-2030. Since the beginning of this year, a student housing director has been working to monitor the progress of construction projects and remove obstacles. New construction and transformation into student housing are preferred and flexible solutions can be used for this. A tour of the student towns and surrounding towns shows that there are now concrete building plans for approximately 20,000 units.
Affordable housing for students
With the Affordable Rent bill, which is currently before the Council of State for advice, the minister is also strengthening student rent protection. As a result, landlords of student housing are obliged to respect the maximum rent according to the housing valuation system.