On Monday, 27 January 2025, the CrAFt project collaborated in the event “Bridging Perspectives: A Dialogue Between Private Providers and Students on Housing Needs and Expectations”, organised by UIPI. This dialogue brought together students, private landlords and housing experts to discuss the challenges and opportunities in accessing affordable and sustainable student accommodation in Europe.
The event featured a diverse panel representing both the student and accommodation provider perspective:, Isabella Giovanetti (University of Bologna – UNIBO) – PhD student in Construction Engineering and Architecture, Rui Vinha (Erasmus Student Network – ESN) – Treasurer of the ESN network, Joonas Grönlund – CEO of the Lappeenranta Student Housing Foundation (Finland) and President of the Nordic Association of Student Housing Companies and Diana Ralha – Representative of the Lisbon Landlords Association (ALP), with experience in Portuguese real estate market trends.
A Gap Between Expectations and Reality
Surveys presented at the event revealed a significant difference in the perception of student needs and landlords’ expectations:
- For students, the most important factors when looking for accommodation are affordability, security and location.
- For landlords, key elements include location, value for money and local demand.
- Sustainability and energy efficiency, although increasingly relevant in the housing debate, are not among the top priorities for students due to the urgency of finding affordable and accessible accommodation.
Challenges in the Student Housing Market
The event addressed some of the obstacles that hinder access to student housing:
- Shortage of supply and high rental costs in many European cities.
- Difficulties for international students, such as bureaucratic barriers, contracts in other languages and risk of scams.
- Lack of incentives for small landlords, who often see renting to students as a risk due to high turnover and frequent maintenance of housing.
Innovative Solutions and Models
The event highlighted successful initiatives that seek to improve access to student housing, many of which align with the principles of the CrAFt project: sustainability, inclusion and collaboration.
- Public guarantees for landlords, such as the French model, which reduces the risks of non-payment and fosters confidence in the rental market.
- University mediation programmes, such as the one at Nova Business School in Lisbon, which connects students with older landlords, creating benefits for both young people and the ageing population.
- HousingBo in Bologna, an initiative by the University of Bologna that seeks to improve urban planning and sustainability in student housing.
- Participatory management models, such as in Finland, where non-profit foundations manage student accommodation with student representation in decision-making.
The CrAFt project promotes innovative approaches in the development of sustainable and resilient cities. Student housing is a key element in the evolution of urban environments, and events such as this reinforce the importance of collaboration between students, landlords, universities and local administrations to find effective solutions. As we move forward in implementing sustainable housing models, CrAFt will continue to support initiatives that foster more accessible, inclusive and efficient housing, in line with the values of the New European Bauhaus.