The number of students enrolled at German universities has risen by more than 50 % in the last 20 years to almost 3 million. As a result, the demand for housing for this population group has also increased significantly, but it is becoming increasingly difficult to find suitable accommodation, especially in cities with a tight housing market.
One particularly popular alternative among students is the student living segment.
The student living segment is part of serviced accommodation and can therefore be located between the traditional housing market and the commercial part of temporary living. As the name suggests, student living concepts are aimed primarily at students, but also at some trainees. These properties, also known as student residences, can be found in almost all cities with universities. In most cases, student residences are operated either by public agencies such as the local student unions or by private operators. The range of private operators in particular has expanded and professionalised significantly over the last two decades. This offering is now characterised by numerous major brands. Among the best-known are SMARTments student, The Fizz, Younig Living or Campo Novo.
Apartments in student living properties are generally much more simply furnished than serviced apartments. The furnishings usually include a single bed, a desk, a closet, a kitchenette and a bathroom with shower. Compared to serviced apartments, the room sizes are usually somewhat smaller, averaging around 20 m². Both student residences run by public agencies and student-living properties run by private operators feature common areas such as lounges or study rooms for students. In the case of the higher-quality products, mostly from private operators, this can also include fitness rooms, gaming areas, community lobbies or multimedia rooms. Services such as apartment cleaning are, as usual in residential concepts, not included, but can sometimes be booked separately.