Student housing shortage eases this year
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The seemingly chronic shortage of student housing has eased in nearly all large university towns in Finland.
New students from out-of-town arriving in Helsinki, Kuopio, and Joensuu, for instance, will generally be able to get accommodation in September, the beginning of term. the situation is more difficult in Tampere and Turku.
Student housing foundations have built new accommodation, and more rental housing seems to be available on the open market as well.
The Foundation for Student Housing in the Helsinki Region (HOAS) has many vacancies available. Priority is given to students coming from outside the Helsinki region.
"By early October at the latest, new students from the Helsinki region will have the chance to get a flat", says Anna Lassus, head of customer service at HOAS.
Teekkarikylä, a student village for those studying at the Helsinki University of Technology, also expects to be able to accommodate all new students from outside the region from the beginning of the new term.
"We haven’t been in a situation like this in 30 years" says Leena Ylikonkaluoma of the village’s accommodation office.
The Student Union of the Helsinki School of Economics is also seeking to guarantee housing for all students coming from outside the Helsinki region.
The situation is more difficult in Tampere and Turku.
About 2,000 new students are starting their studies in Turku this autumn, and accommodation is available only for about 1,000 applicants.
The further a student’s home, the more likely he or she is to get accommodation.
Nevertheless, Pirjo Lipponen-Vaitiomaa of the Turku Student Village Foundation (TYS) promises that all students will be accommodated in November at the latest.
The queue for housing at the Tampere Student Housing Foundation (TOAS) is more difficult, and the wait for digs could take as long as January. TOAS has space for about 8,000 residents.
TOAS marketing secretary Tuula Kahiluoto notes that in addition to the normal autumn rush, they have a commitment to house 400-500 exchange students.
Helsingin Sanomat
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| 4.8.2005 - TODAY |
 Student housing shortage eases this year
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