Every year, the start of the school year brings excitement and promises of a bright future, but for many students, it also means palpable stress about finding accommodation. In this period of acute housing crisis, how will these young minds, often already overwhelmed by the weight of studies, manage to navigate this real estate jungle where prices are soaring and availability is scarce? Between overpriced apartments and shared rentals that sell out in the blink of an eye, it is crucial to explore concrete and daring avenues to avoid the pitfalls of this real estate madness. The solutions exist, and it is time to discuss them so that this return to school is not a path strewn with pitfalls, but rather a new opportunity to be seized.
Montpellier: a context of acute crisis
With 82,000 students in the academy, Montpellier has become one of the most attractive cities for students in France. However, this summer, the lack of accommodation is cruelly felt. THE real estate ads are rare and the apartments or studios available are even more rare.
A race against time
Students and their families begin research in June, upon leaving the baccalaureate. As the father of Flore, a future student, explains: “We started there when we left the baccalaureate. As soon as the results were obtained, we began research immediately“. For Flore, the quest fortunately ended on a positive note with a 21m studio2 at 377 euros per month.
But for many others, the challenge is colossal. Stéphanie and Ulrich, who came specially from Puy-en-Velay, have still not found an apartment for their daughter after several days of intense searching, without any scheduled visit.
The causes of the imbalance
According to Frédérique Drennes, a real estate agent for 20 years in Montpellier, several factors explain this crisis:
- A growing influx of students every year.
- A severe lack of housing available at the right time.
- Rare building land due to the age of the neighborhoods.
- Recent constructions insufficient to meet demand.
Solutions and alternatives: how to find a roof?
Faced with this alarming situation, various actors are trying to provide solutions:
- Solidarity owners : Some open their doors and rent rooms at low prices to help young people.
- University accommodation : The residences of Crous Montpellier, reserved for scholarship students, are an option. However, they are already full with around 11,000 places available.
- Land preemption : Some student unions are asking communities to preempt land to build additional student housing.
Tips for maximizing your chances
For students and their families, here are some practical tips:
- Start researching as soon as possible, ideally as soon as you get your baccalaureate results.
- Use various online platforms to maximize the chances of finding an ad.
- Consider co-location options to increase possibilities.
- Stay flexible on the search criteria (surface area, location). Sometimes a compromise on one can help secure accommodation.
There student housing crisis before the start of the school year is a reality that worries more and more. By getting started early and exploring all available options, it is possible to find solutions to avoid finding yourself without a roof over your head in September. Solidarity and community initiative can also play a key role in solving this major challenge.