A comment under a recent report drew the attention of RTL’s Anne Lauer to the fact that it is not only difficult for students to find a flat, but also for owners to offer such an accommodation. She thus investigated the matter further by contacting the Ministry of Education and the University of Luxembourg and received some interesting responses.
According to the comment in question, there is a lack of information and opportunities for private individuals to lease their properties. There is a desire for a service that mediates between owners and students, as it is currently almost impossible to get hold of one, the author further noted. According to them, the email address, for instance, might no longer be valid or it turns out that the flat cannot be marketed to students for various reasons.
When asked by RTL, the Ministry for Higher Education and Research only advised to contact an real estate agency or the University of Luxembourg.
The latter, in return, also advised to directly contact agencies. An alternative would be to make a formal request to the university’s logistics service at +352 46 66 44 1. They would then decide whether the flat meets their requirements, especially in terms of security and connection to public transport.
A relatively new and innovative solution is the WeConnect initiative. Founded last year by three students, this platform uses intergenerational dialogue to help students find an affordable room in a shared flat with eldery citizens.
On their website, they describe the initiative as follows: “In fact, our goal is to help young people find affordable housing in a real estate market where rents are increasingly difficult to pay. At the same time, we want to help lonely people, young and old, to feel less lonely.”
So, if you want to rent out your flat specifically to students, you have two options. Either you offer the flat in the traditional way through an agency or you hope that it meets the criteria of the university.
Unlike in other countries, there is still a lack of innovative ways to lease flats to students in Luxembourg.
