Student housing in Brussels 2024

Presents

SURVEY RESULTS

STUDENT HOUSING IN BRUSSELS september – november 2024

WHY ARE WE WRITING THIS REPORT?

Every year, Brik conducts a survey to learn more about the experiences of Brussels students in their search for a student room in the city. The results of this survey are compiled into a report that offers an overview of student housing life in Brussels. We take a closer look at various aspects, including the cost of housing, what students value most in their accommodation and where exactly they reside in Brussels.

We also include commuter students (students who do not live in student housing). They tell us why they’ve chosen not to move into a student room and what they consider important when it comes to student housing. Together, these insights paint a picture of Brussels students and what they are really looking for.

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THE RESPONDENTS

Out of 1,226 respondents who started the survey, 1,063 completed it in full. 16 respondents were excluded because they were not students, did not study, or did not live in Brussels. This leaves a total of 1,047 students included in the analysis.

At which Dutch-speaking college or university in Brussels are you studying?

Almost half of the students study at Vrije Universiteit Brussel. In addition, 25,9% attend a Brussels campus of KU Leuven, 11,1% study at Odisee, 7,1% at Erasmushogeschool Brussel, and 4,5% at LUCA School of Arts.

Around 2% study at a French-speaking college/university or pursue their education in Flanders.

Vrije Universiteit Brussel

49,5%

KU Leuven Brussels campuses

25,9%

Odisee

11,1%

Erasmushogeschool Brussel

7,1%

LUCA School of Arts

4,5%

French-speaking university in Brussels

0,6%

French-speaking college in Brussels

0,6%

Other

0,5%

University in Flanders

0,2%

College in Flanders

0,1%

University in Wallonia

0,1%

Are you a Belgian or an international student?

In this report, Belgian students are defined as students who completed their secondary education in Belgium. Based on this definition, 71,3% of the students are considered to be Belgian, and 28,7% are international students.

71,3% Belgian student

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28,7% International student

Are you living in a student room?

Half of the total survey population resides in student housing in Brussels. A further 5,4% live in student housing outside Brussels. Additionally, 27,4% commute from their home address to the Brussels campus, and16,6% live with their family in Brussels.

Striking, though not surprising: 70,4% of international students live in student housing in Brussels, compared with 41,8% of Belgian students.

I am living in a student room outside Brussels I live in Brussels with my family/guardian

5,4% 16,6% 50%

I am living in a student room

27,4%

I commute from my home address to Brussels

Where is your student housing outside Brussels located?

5,4% of students live in student housing outside Brussels.

Most of them have a student room in Leuven, followed by students who are staying in Ghent or Antwerp. A few students live in other cities, such as Bruges, Kortrijk, or Ostend. Several others live in the Flemish periphery around Brussels, such as in Dilbeek or Wemmel.

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THE COMMUTER STUDENTS

Where do you commute from?

27,4% of students commute from their home address outside of Brussels to their Brussels campus.

Why do you not live in student housing in Brussels?

Most commuters come from Flemish Brabant, followed by East Flanders and Antwerp.

The main reasons why students don’t live in student housing are the high cost and the fact that they live close to their campus.

A notable finding is that about a quarter of the students indicate that they could no longer find a student room in Brussels.

Would you like to live in student housing in Brussels?

Under the ‘other’ response option, students also mention a variaty of personal reasons, such as:

Just over half of the students who are currently not living in student housing in Brussels say they would like to.

• Wanting to spend time with family and pets • The combination of expensive student room prices and a campus located in an unsafe neighbourhood

On average, they are willing to spend 500 euros per month on a student room. Breaking this down, it turns out that foreign students are willing to pay an average of 552 euros, while Belgian students are prepared to spend an average of 484 euros.

• Parents who want them to become a bit more mature first • Too little greenery and too many stimuli in the city • Worrying that they might not get along with housemates

I find student housing too expensive in Brussels

59,3 %

I live close to my university or college

49,5 %

I like to commute

46,7 %

My friends live/study outside Brussels

43,6 %

I don’t want to live alone

33,8 %

My parents don’t want me to live in student housing 29,8 % I couldn’t find a student home in Brussels anymore

26,2 %

I don’t feel safe in Brussels

21,7 %

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THE STUDENTS LIVING IN STUDENT HOUSING In which municipality of the BrusselsCapital Region is your student room located?

Most students live in Brussels City (31,9%), followed by Elsene (20,2%), Etterbeek (12,4%), Jette (11,8%), Schaarbeek (4,7%) and Oudergem (4,1%).

7 8 15 9 17 6

13

16

10 3 11 2 5 4 14 1 12

0%

31,9%

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Brussels-City (incl. Laken, Neder-OverHeembeek, Haren) (1000, 1020, 1120, 1130)

31,9%

Elsene (1050)

20,2%

Etterbeek (1040)

12,4%

Jette (1090)

11,8%

Schaarbeek (1030)

4,7%

Oudergem (1160)

4,1%

Sint-Jans-Molenbeek (1080)

3,5%

Anderlecht (1070)

3,3%

Sint-Joost-ten-Node (1210)

1,6%

Ganshoren (1083)

1%

Sint-Lambrechts-Woluwe (1200)

1%

Koekelberg (1081)

0,8%

Evere (1140)

0,6%

Sint-Gillis (1060)

0,6%

Sint-Agatha-Berchem (1082)

0,4%

Sint-Pieters-Woluwe (1150)

0,4%

Vorst (1190)

0,4%

Ukkel (1180)

0,2%

Watermaal-Bosvoorde (1170)

0%

1.

VUB – VUB Main Campus

10. Odisee – Campus Brussels – Terranova

2.

Ehb – Campus Bloemenhof

11. EhB – RITCS – Campus Dansaert

3.

EhB – Campus Kanal

12. LUCA – Campus Narafi

4.

Odisee – Campus Brussels

13. KU Leuven – Sint-Lucas Brussels Campus

5.

KU Leuven – Brussels Campus

14. EhB – Koninklijk Conservatorium Brussel

6.

EhB – Campus Kaai

15. Odisee – Campus Dilbeek

7.

VUB – VUB Health Campus

16. Odisee – Campus Schaarbeek

8.

EhB – Campus Jette

17. EhB – RITCS – Campus Bottelarij

9.

LUCA – Campus Sint-Lukas

18. EhB – Campus COOVI

What type of student housing do you live in?

Most respondents live in college- or university-owned student housing (30,6%). This is followed by large private student housing (22,3%). A notable 20,6% of students live in a house or apartment, either on their own or shared with others. Another 14,8% live in small or medium-sized private student housing.

University - or college-owned student room - e.g. student room of VUB

30,6 %

Large private student housing (with 30 or more rooms or studios) - e.g. Upkot

22,3 %

House or apartment where I live alone or share with others (partner, friends, acquaintances, etc.)

20,6 %

Small or medium private student housing (less than 30 rooms or studios)

14,8%

Student room provided by Brik

8,3%

Homestay (a house where the owner rents out a room but also lives there himself)

2,2 %

Family-/guardian-owned student room

1,2 %

Why did you choose this type of student housing?

There are different types of student rooms in Brussels: a student room with shared facilities such as a kitchen, bathroom, and/or living room (KOT), a student room with its own bathroom and a shared kitchen (KOT+), or a student room with its own bathroom and kitchen (STUDIO). Some students live in an apartment or a house.

STUDIO

KOT Almost 70% indicate that they choose this type of student room for the price, 40% for the social contact, and 36% for the comfort.

KOT+ 50% indicate that they choose this type of student room for the price, just under half for the privacy it offers, 35% for the social contact, and slightly more than half for the comfort.

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40% indicate that they choose a studio for the price, 56% for the privacy, and 55% choose a studio for the comfort it offers.

In addition, 7% of students – regardless of the type of student room – indicate under the ‘other’ response option that they chose their room because of its location close to the campus. Other reasons that are mentioned include: “the fastest option I could find”, “only option”, “necessity” and “availability”.

Who pays for your student room?

Belgian students

International students

Me

12 %

45,6 %

My family/guardian

71,1 %

31,6 %

Me, but I receive support from my family/guardian

12,3 %

17,7 %

Me, but I receive support from the government/school (e.g. rent allowance)

2,6 %

3,8 %

Another party (e.g. OCMW - Public Centre for Social Welfare)

1,9 %

1,3 %

What do you think of the cost of your student room?

Among Belgian students, the family or guardian often covers the cost of student housing (71,1%). 12,3% pay for it themselves but receive support from family, while 12% cover the full cost on their own.

of students living in student housing consider the cost to be expensive to very expensive.

Among international students, most pay for their student room themselves (45,6%).

17,7% of students pay for it themselves but receive support from family, while in 31,6% of cases, the family or guardian covers the cost.

Very expensive

11,5% 30,3%

Expensive Neutral Not expensive Not expensive 4,2% at all

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13,9%

40%

THE STUDENT HOUSING PRICE

The average student housing price (including extra charges) Large private student housing

Small or medium private student housing

College- or universityowned student room

Brik student room

Homestay

Family-/guardian -owned student room

Average across all types

Kot - Room with shared facilities (kitchen, bathroom, relaxation area)

€ 605

€ 512

€ 435

€ 4651

€ 5182

-

€ 478

Kot+ - Room with private bathroom + shared kitchen

€ 640

€ 590

€ 547

€ 5181

-

-

€ 610

Studio - Room with private bathroom + private kitchen

€ 722

€ 597

€ 596

€ 5861

-

-

€ 662

1 Based on internal data from Brik (academic year 2024–2025). Survey results were not included due to a limited sample size.

2 Small group (between 10 and 5 respondents). The result is provided for indicative purposes only.

- For this group, the number of respondents was too small to calculate a reliable average rental price.

The average rental price for the type ‘house or apartment where I live alone or share with others’ – including extra charges 21% of students live in a house or apartment, either on their own or shared with friends or acquaintances. This type of housing is not considered a traditional student room, as it falls under the residential housing offer. Therefore, rental prices for this category were not included in the calculation of the average student housing prices but are shown here separately.

Average

Type of room

A room in a shared apartment/house with others (under a single tenancy agreement) (e.g.

€ 561

with friends, acquaintances, partner, etc.)

A full apartment/house where I live alone

€ 961

A cohousing organised by a private company - e.g. Cohabs, Coliving, etc.

-

- For this group, the number of respondents was too small to calculate a reliable average rental price.

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Comparison Belgian and international students Excluding house or apartment where I live alone or share with others – including extra charges Belgian students

International students

Kot - Room with shared facilities (kitchen, bathroom, relaxation area)

€ 461

€ 512

Kot+ - Room with private bathroom + shared kitchen

€ 583

€ 640

Studio - Room with private bathroom + private kitchen

€ 610

€ 713

Type of room

Price comparison per municipality

Excluding house or apartment where I live alone or share with others – including extra charges

Comparison subsidised – private market

Excluding house or apartment where I live alone or share with others – including extra charges

Type of room

Subsidised

Private market

Kot - Room with shared facilities (kitchen, bathroom, relaxation area)

€ 444

€ 544

Kot+ - Room with private bathroom + shared kitchen

€ 546

€ 626

Studio - Room with private bathroom + private kitchen

€ 656

€ 665

*Subsidised student housing includes: ‘College- or university-owned student room’ and ‘Brik student room’. The private market includes: ‘Large private student housing’, ‘Small or medium private student housing’, ‘Homestay’ and ‘Family-/guardian-owned student room’.

1

10

Municipality

Average

Brussels City

€ 593

Elsene

€ 547

Etterbeek

€ 471

Schaarbeek

€ 568

Jette

€ 474

Anderlecht

€ 617

Oudergem

€ 459

Sint-Jans-Molenbeek

€ 4851

Small group (between 10 and 5 respondents). The result is provided for indicative purposes only.

THE SEARCH FOR A STUDENT ROOM How difficult was it to find your student room?

How long did it take to find a student room?

More than 40% found it difficult to very difficult to find student housing. A quarter felt neutral, and about 30% found it not difficult or not difficult at all to find student housing.

About 30% of students found student housing within two weeks. Nearly a quarter needed up to a month, while around 1 in 5 took a bit longer – between one and two months (20,3%) or between two and three months (20,6%). A small group, 3,6%, reported that it took them more than three months to find a student room.

Students living in a college- or university-owned student room clearly found the search easier. In contrast, those looking for housing on the private market (large, medium, or small private student housing or homestay) more often reported that the search was (very) difficult.

Not difficult

Within 2 months

20,3%

Within 3 months

20,6%

More than 3 months

13%

14,6%

23,9%

Within a month

Not difficult at all

18,8%

31,6%

Within 2 weeks

Very difficult

26,1% 27,7% Neutral Difficult

11

3,6%

When did you sign the tenancy agreement?

Most students signed their tenancy agreement during the summer months, with 1 in 6 doing so before January.

25%

20%

15%

10%

5%

0%

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WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER TO BE IMPORTANT FOR A STUDENT ROOM?

47,3%

Price 28,8%

Distance to my campus

Additionally, about 60% of students place importance on using a legal tenancy agreement, sufficient natural daylight, the condition of the building, the type of neighbourhood the student room is located in, and a good social atmosphere with housemates.

Half of the students consider a private bathroom to be (very) important. Slightly less important, but still relevant, are room size, the presence of an outdoor area, and having a private kitchen.

5,2%

Outdoor area

26,6% 33,7%

20,3%

33%

9,5%

Private kitchen

28,6%

21,6%

Private bathroom 0%

10%

very important

13

30%

important

40%

10,8%

7,1%

8,8%

6,9%

10,3%

8,3%

10%

8%

11,7%

8%

11,1%

7,8%

16,6%

6,4%

28,6%

29,4%

20%

6,7%

11,4%

17,9% 34,4%

17,4%

8,3%

30,4%

35,5%

9,5%

Spacious room

18,4%

32,7%

27,8%

A good social atmosphere with the other tenants

20,6%

38,2%

28,2%

Use of a legal (student) tenancy agreement

8,1%

12,3%

41,7%

17,2%

Type of neighbourhood

17,3% 44,6%

19,2%

Plenty of natural daylight

8,1%

10,9%

45,4%

27,4%

Cleanliness of the building

14,4% 36,1%

19,4%

Condition of the building

7,4% 6,5% 7,1%

40,8%

38%

Reliable internet connection

For more than 80% of respondents, price is the most important factor — they rate it as important or very important. Distance to campus, a reliable internet connection, and the cleanliness of the building also score highly, with around 70% of students considering these elements as (very) important.

31,8%

23%

50%

neutral

60%

15,9% 18,4%

70%

not important

80%

7,6%

90%

not important at all

100%

How long do you want to spend commuting to your campus?

Most students want to reach their campus within half an hour.

Nearly a quarter (23%) state that they want a maximum travel time of 30 minutes, while 1 in 5 (20,3%) would prefer to travel for no longer than 20 minutes. Approximately 15% prefer to keep their travel time to 15 minutes. Only a small group of students finds a longer commute acceptable: less than 5% are willing to travel for more than 40 minutes, and barely 2% is prepared to commute for one hour or more.

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Max. 5 minutes

7,4%

Max. 10 minutes

9,3%

Max. 15 minutes

15,1%

Max. 20 minutes

20,3%

Max. 25 minutes

9,7%

Max. 30 minutes

23%

Max. 35 minutes

5,5%

Max. 40 minutes

4,7%

Max. 45 minutes

2,4%

Max. 50 minutes

0,6%

Max. 55 minutes

0,1%

Max. 60 minutes

1,4%

> 60 minutes

0,5%

CONCLUSION The results show that many students perceive student housing in Brussels as expensive. For nearly 60% of commuter students, the cost is a major reason for not moving into a student room. Yet just over half of this group state that they would still like to live in student housing.

Among students who are currently living in student housing, 42% consider the rental price expensive to very expensive.

Rental prices vary widely depending on the type of student housing and the provider. Private market student housing is generally more expensive than subsidised student rooms, and studios with private facilities cost more than rooms with shared kitchens and/or bathrooms.

Regarding the motivations for choosing the type of student housing, affordability appears to be the main reason for opting for shared-facility student rooms. Students renting a room with a private bathroom but a shared kitchen often do so for price reasons as well, but also for the additional comfort and privacy this type of student housing provides. A large portion of students –

regardless of the type of student room – also cite proximity to campus as a key factor in their choice.

The search for a student room also proves difficult for many students. More than 40% of students found it difficult to very difficult to find student housing. Additionally, about a quarter of commuter students indicate they didn’t move into student housing because they could no longer find a student room in Brussels.

COLOPHON Contributed to this publication:

Overall, students consider price, distance to campus, a reliable internet connection, and cleanliness of the building to be important aspects of student housing.

Other key factors include having a legal tenancy agreement, sufficient natural daylight, the condition of the building, the location of the neighbourhood, and a good social atmosphere with housemates. Finally, most students want to reach their campus within thirty minutes, emphasising the importance of the student housing location.

Content: © Brik – Student in Brussel vzw, 2025 Design and illustrations: Uncompressed Thanks to the students who helped us take this survey.

For more information about this survey or other information about studying in Brussels, please contact us via: brik.be Brik is the contact point for students in Brussels. We help them with student housing, give out information about living in Brussels and organise tailored events. We do this in conjunction with VUB, EhB, Odisee, LUCA and KU Leuven Brussels campuses.

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