Ghent (Brussels Morning Newspaper): Ghent, home to 87,638 students, faces a housing crisis with a shortage of 10,000 rooms. The approval process for new student accommodations averages seven years. The average rent is €523, with rising construction costs complicating solutions. Local authorities urge urgent action to address these issues, as many students struggle to find affordable housing.
Ghent has 87,638 students, with around half living in student rooms, leading to a population increase of one-sixth at the start of the academic year. A 2021 study revealed a shortage of 10,000 rooms, and although the city has been adding about 450 new rooms each year, the student population grows by 2,000 annually, worsening the housing crisis. The lengthy approval process for new projects, now averaging 7 years, adds to the frustration, prompting calls for urgent action from local authorities and developers.
How is Ghent addressing its student housing crisis amid rising demand and costs?
In Ghent, developers face challenges in getting building approvals, as the process has become lengthy due to consultations with the city and appeals from neighbors. The city mainly allows projects with at least 50 rooms to tackle the housing shortage without affecting the regular market. However, the average rent for a room is 523 euros, which is too high for many students. Ghent mandates that 20 percent of new rooms be basic for affordability, but this percentage may not increase for now. Rising construction costs and the need for management agreements also complicate new housing projects.
A new student housing project is being built outside the city to create thousands of rooms for students. Although the city and developers support this project, it is moving slowly. The Loop area is being looked at as a possible location. Schools are also working on building and fixing student rooms. Artevelde University College has opened a new building with 53 rooms and plans to add more. Many schools rent rooms from developers to offer them at lower prices, especially for students in need and those from other countries. However, it is hard to find money for these projects. Students who cannot find housing often stay with their families, which puts more pressure on the rental market. The city wants to make it easier to create different types of housing to help more students.
