Increase in students and decrease in real estate stock!
The start of the 2015 school year will prove to be even more problematic for students than that of 2014. Why? Quite simply because the increase in the number of students will continue and the construction of housing will not keep up!
The 2015 back-to-school period will prove to be even more problematic for students than that of 2014.
Why? Simply because the increase in the number of students will continue and the construction of housing will not keep up!
Currently 2,347,800 students are enrolled in higher education in France. This represents an increase of 1.2% compared to the 2014 back-to-school period (+28,000 students). However, to be able to house its students and reduce the housing shortage, it would be necessary, over the next ten years, to build 50,000 new housing units and renovate 70,000 existing apartments.
The need therefore remains considerable and public institutions (such as Crous) cannot keep up.
Moreover, it must be noted that these accommodations are very expensive for the budgets of students and their families. More and more young people are turning to shared housing and to housing in exchange for services. Intergenerational housing is gaining popularity, but it restricts and limits users by age. It is also located only in large cities. Furthermore, young people cannot be older than 26 or 27 and must necessarily be housed with seniors. Other forms of housing in exchange for services are now emerging. They break down barriers of age, location, and time. Student forums discuss and promote this new kind of housing in exchange for services. This latter connects a Host offering a free room to a supportive housemate in exchange for services.