Graduates share tips on how to find a place to life after graduating

Almost half of students living in Utrecht (49 per cent) have left their parents' place, with 66 per cent of them sharing the kitchen, bathroom and other facilities with others. 18 per cent are living alone in a studio or flat. That's according to a survey published by the National Student Housing Monitor, an initiative by the housing organisation Kences. The survey also shows that students under 20 years old are more likely to live in shared houses, but as they get older, the desire for more independence grows.

HOW DO STUDENTS LIVE IN UTRECHT?

YOUNG STUDENTS MORE LIKELY TO SHARE A HOME, WHILE OLDER STUDENTS PREFER TO LIVE ON THEIR OWN

The average length of stay in student accommodation
Graduates must choose between staying in their student house or looking for a place of their own. Some already find their own place before graduating, as shown by the graph above.

Students living in places owned by SSH, the largest student housing provider in Utrecht, need to move out quickly. After graduating, those renting a room or studio with SSH have one year to leave to make room for another student. Even so, the demand for studios while still studying is so high that students must wait 38 months to five years. One can enter the waiting list at the age of 16.

HOW LONG IT TAKES FOR GRADUATES TO FIND A PLACE

Apartment hunting after graduating
A new phase dawns after your degree: the search for a place that will suit your new life. That can be quite challenging! The National Student Monitor survey shows that 43 per cent of graduates move to a different place up to one year after getting their diploma. This is partly due to the expiration of contracts with SSH but the need for more privacy plays a role too. But, with a housing shortage so dire, where can they go? Many consider moving to another city.

The students in the data visualisation minor conducted their own survey, "Housing plans after graduation", with 115 respondents who are all university students or recent graduates. This survey shows that few respondents expect to be able to stay in Utrecht after graduation. Almost 40 per cent even think they will have to move back in with their parents.

The figures give us an idea of their expectations, but they are not entirely representative: Of the 115 participants, 72 per cent were still students and half of respondents lived with their parents. Though many respondents want to look for their own home after their studies, they are not confident that these plans will work out. Many students living away from home indicate that the search for a new place is so challenging that they're afraid they will be forced to return to their parents' place after graduation.

WHERE DO STUDENTS IN UTRECHT EXPECT TO LIVE AFTER GRADUATION?

Housing shortage remains the biggest obstacle
The main reasons for near graduates to want to move out include the desire to have more privacy, move in with their romantic partners, or live closer to work. About 35 per cent of respondents say they would like to stay in Utrecht but a considerable proportion of them are willing to look for a place in surrounding cities such as Nieuwegein and Zeist.

People with a low income must wait a whopping 11 years to get social housing in Utrecht, which forces many graduates to rent from private landlords, where independent housing is scarce and expensive. With an average budget of 900 euros per month, many graduates are aware that their wish to buy a house will probably not be fulfilled due to the high prices and strict mortgage conditions. 

WHAT GRADUATES TAKE INTO ACCOUNT WHEN LOOKING FOR A HOME

Graduates share their tips on how to find a home
In the survey, we asked graduates and near graduates to share tips with other house hunters. This is what they said:

• Start early: "Register with housing associations as soon as you turn 18".
• Be active and creative: "Think of looking for housing as a side job and reply to as many ads as you can".
• Look outside the city: "Consider living in the outskirts of Utrecht. If public transport connections are good, this can be a smart choice".
• Use your network: "Ask around and use social media to promote yourself as a good tenant".
• Prepare yourself financially: "Make sure you have savings, as the cost of a house can add up quickly."
• Use housing platforms: "Websites like Pararius, Funda and VGW can be valuable resources."
• A graduate also gave a warning: "Don't forget to renew your registration with social housing associations. Forgetting once can cost you years of waiting."

Sources:
SSH Annual Report 2023: Stichting Studenten Huisvesting. (2023). Jaarverslag SSH 2023. SSH.
National Student Housing Monitor 2024: Hooft van Huijsduijnen, L., Elfferich, A., Marchal, B., Speijer, R., & Molenaar, T. (2024). Landelijke Monitor Studentenhuisvesting 2024. ABF Research. Commissioned by Kences.
Housing wishes of HBO and WO students: ABF Research. (2024, 17 mei). Woonwensen HBO- en WO-studenten in Utrecht. Commissioned by the Municipality of Utrecht.