How to find student accommodation?

Shared accommodation, student residence, intergenerational rental, Crous accommodation, young workers’ hostel… A multitude of accommodation exists for post-baccalaureate students. It is never easy to navigate the jungle of student housing, nor to find the right accommodation, both close to the university, with a bearable rent and pleasant to live in on a daily basis. A brief overview of the possibilities available to you.

Student accommodation: first define your search criteria

First step before the actual search for a student housing, the definition of your criteria. Indeed, depending on your budget, your place of study but also your character, all the possibilities of accommodation will not necessarily be adapted to your expectations and your needs.

The success of your search for accommodation will first depend on the budget you can devote to it. It’s not easy to find decent accommodation when you have limited means. Then define the budget that you can allocate to this monthly expense. It must include the monthly amount of the rent of course, without forgetting the charges and ancillary costs such as theHome Insurance.

Try setting a geographic area for your listing. Do you prefer to live near your university, but a little further from the city center or on the contrary, do you prefer to stay in the city center to have access to all the amenities, but have more distance to travel each day? to get to your classes. Don’t neglect the distance to public transport either.

• What type of accommodation to choose

Even if it is not always easy to find the ideal student accommodation corresponding to all your criteria and especially to your budget, it is important despite everything to know what you will be able to and want to live in. Indeed, do you prefer to live alone in your accommodation or with others, will you be able to live in an already furnished accommodation or do you prefer to create your own little cocoon to reassure you, will you have the time and the desire to cook or do you prefer accommodation with catering included… So many questions to ask yourself before choosing this or that student accommodation.

Student housing: which solution to choose?

Shared accommodation often allows you to live in a larger accommodation for a lower rent than for an individual rental. However, it is not always easy to live in community on a daily basis. Sharing of fridgethe bathroom, expenses, evenings, it’s up to you to see according to your character and your habits if this way of life is adapted to your personality.

Like many young adults, you now aspire to live alone at home. Yes, but here it is, the reality of the real estate market in certain student cities can undermine this noble project. Indeed, the rents can very quickly fly away and this for very often very small habitable surfaces. If you opt for unfurnished accommodation, you will also have to add furnishing costs and individual charges.

• Crous university residences

Crous university residences are generally popular with many students. Offering accommodation at very low rent, close to universities and public transport, they offer multiple services to students and allow them to meet many people. However, the number of places is very limited given the demand and many university residences are aging. Accommodation in a student residence is allocated subject to parental resources.

• Private student residences

More expensive than Crous residences, private student residences nevertheless offer multiple services to students (laundry, gym, snacks…). Different sizes of accommodation are generally available, and accommodation is not means-tested. Close to universities and public transport, these residences offer good daily comfort and a certain level of security.

• Young workers hostels

Young worker hostels are run by associations, some of them nuns. They allow studentsof the apprentices, young workers to obtain a single or double room depending on the hostels for a moderate rent. In addition to offering common areas, whether leisure areas or laundry facilities, young workers’ hostels also include half board or even full board in the rental price. Highly requested, it is often difficult to obtain a place immediately and the rules of procedure can put some applicants off. They are nevertheless a very good opportunity to make friends when you arrive in a city that you do not know at the start.

• Intergenerational shared accommodation

Intergenerational shared accommodation consists of joint rental of a room in the home of a Old person. In exchange for this habitable room for free or with a very small rent, the tenant must be present for the person and render him a service, whether for shopping or for certain activities. A human and social adventure above all, it helps to forge strong links between generations and to bring a presence to people who are often isolated. If free housing can interest many people, it must be taken into account that it is against the exchange of services rendered and to live with an elderly person, therefore rather in a calm and peaceful environment.

There are other accommodation solutions such as student houses or accommodation as an au pair student.

In any case, whether you are looking for solidarity housing, in the private housing stock or in the social housing stock, seriously prepare your student housing application file in order to find your next home.