Amsterdam bans creation of new hotels
Another piece in the overall strategy to reduce tourist flows to the city
34,000 more students have come to Ghent in the past 20 years, yet the city has built only 3,800 units of housing
On Monday, 5 July, the City of Ghent published the preliminary results of a study on student housing that they had previously commissioned. Alderman of Housing Tine Heyse, commented on the results, saying that additional housing would be needed for 10,000 students.
The study was conducted by Mpiris in collaboration with Leidsman and the Student Council of Ghent and it has some key insights into the needs, habits, trends and preferences when it comes to the type, price and location of the accommodations.
In the past 20 years around 34,000 additional students have come to Ghent while just 3,800 units of student housing were constructed during the same period, revealing a clear disbalance that now the city is trying to rectify. To explore the issue further, Mpiris and Leidsman ran the study in November and December of 2020 and collaborated with the Ghent Student Council so that they can reach a wider sample and increase the accuracy of their findings.
In particular, some of the goals of the first major study in student housing were mapping the housing needs of the students and deepening a global vision of the city’s student housing policy. This resulted in the establishment of five principles for the future development of the city as both a student city and a residential city:
For the most part, students rent in Ghent (59%), which rounds up to 41,000 people. 36% commute from out of town and 6% live with their parents in the city. Nearly a quarter of the students live in an apartment or a family house, making up about 3,700 residential units.
At the same time, those who want to live in Ghent consider that the most important factors for an ideal home are the price, the location (close to the campus) and the facilities (kitchen, sanitary).
When it comes to the cost, a regular room on the private market sits at an average of 415 euros. For a shared apartment students pay about 420 euros per person and 376 euros per person if renting a family house. The average cost for someone in large-scale student accommodation is 493 euros in the private market but if the student housing is linked to an educational institution the figure drops to 347 euros.
Despite the cost, about half of the students in Ghent rent a room on the private market and around half of the surveyed prefer it this way. Furthermore, almost a quarter share an apartment or family home and the remaining 29% live in large-scale student housing with just over a quarter citing that this is their preferred mode of living.
International students stand in contrast to the general trends observed in the survey. Large-scale student housing is the most popular form of living among them. Half of the international students prefer that option while more than a quarter live in an apartment or family home. Only 18% live in a regular room on the private market.
Alderman of Housing Tine Heyse was quoted in a press release summarizing the conclusions of the information and pointing out the need for the construction of housing for an additional 10,000 students.
She continued: “We must focus on building an additional supply of specific student housing. This will benefit both the residents of Ghent and the students in terms of affordability, conflict reduction and housing quality. We want to invest even further to allow students and residents to live together in harmony.”
If you want to keep up with how European cities and regions are changing, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Another piece in the overall strategy to reduce tourist flows to the city
The previous mayor was forced out of office following a no-confidence vote in the city council
Modern traffic lights do more than regulate the flow of vehicles at crossroads, they also collect enormous amounts of data
The facility will replace the need to have water supplied by tankers from Valencia
Modern traffic lights do more than regulate the flow of vehicles at crossroads, they also collect enormous amounts of data
The German Aerospace Center in Cologne is looking for volunteers for its next bed rest study
Muksubussi is nature-friendly, too, so they provide 2-in-1 benefit
The facility will replace the need to have water supplied by tankers from Valencia
The intervention has affected the mountainous districts of the Catalan capital
On this day 200 years ago, the great poet lost his life in the Balkan country where he had gone to fight for its liberty
Muksubussi is nature-friendly, too, so they provide 2-in-1 benefit
Another piece in the overall strategy to reduce tourist flows to the city
Urban dwellers across the EU are having a say in making their surroundings friendlier to people and the environment.
Forests in the EU can help green the European construction industry and bolster a continent-wide push for architectural improvements.
Apply by 10 November and do your part for the transformation of European public spaces
Catch up with some recommendations for the 2024 European Capital of Culture programme from the mayor of Tartu
An interview with the ICLEI regional director for Europe аfter the close of COP28
An interview with a member of the No Hate Speech Network team