The LSVb believes that the introduction of a rental subsidy for non-separate rooms will lower the financial threshold for many students. Currently, the subsidy only applies to self-contained accommodation and is therefore usually not applied to students who share accommodation with others. According to Karbache, moving into a room is now too expensive for most students. “We see the housing subsidy as a simple solution for many of these students to be able to afford it.”
The National Observatory for Student Housing revealed on Thursday that for the first time in years there are more students living away from home, mainly due to the reintroduction of the basic grant. However, the LSVb takes into account that fewer people will move into the rooms this year, as the so-called purchasing power measure for students living away from home has not been extended. According to Karbache, this will cost them around 160 euros. “So it’s sweet for a while, but the old bitterness will soon return.”
According to the Kences Institute monitor, higher education students spend on average 43 percent of their disposable income on housing costs. Of the students who live at home, 44 percent indicate that housing affordability is the most important reason for continuing to live at home. Of the more than 330,000 students studying at a college or university, 45 percent live with their parents or guardians. 80 percent of MBO students live at home during their studies.
According to Kences, there is a shortage of 23,000 rooms and studios, which is relatively unchanged from last year. While two years ago the deficit for 2030 was estimated at 57,000, Kences now expects 42,000 in 2032. “This is a step in the right direction, but it is far from sufficient,” says Karbache of the figures. “This is a housing crisis, much more needs to be built. And if the rooms remain unaffordable, students will not be able to use them anyway. It is a very complex problem that requires an approach by the Minister.”