Small private landlords are increasingly selling the cheap, shared housing that students depend on, new figures from land registry Kadaster reveal. Between January and June 2025, 4,161 former student rooms were put up for sale, and 3,325 were sold—mostly to small-scale investors keen to convert them into higher-rent studio apartments. As a result, 2,786 new studios emerged from previously shared units during that period.
Key figures for H1 2025
- 4,161 student rooms listed for sale
- 3,325 rooms sold to private buyers
- 2,786 conversions into studio apartments
- 5,450 rooms still provided by social housing corporations
- Private rents up 20% in two years; shared housing rents up 18%
Despite social housing providers maintaining around 5,450 rooms for students, private landlords continue to dominate the market. With private-sector rents soaring by 20% and shared-student rents rising by 18% over the past two years, budget-conscious students are finding it ever harder to secure affordable accommodation.
National student umbrella organisation ISO has urged mayoral candidates in major university cities to address the deepening housing shortage. In Amsterdam, for example, the flagship Onderwijs en Ondernemen programme has delivered just 475 rooms—far below its 3,000-room target set for 2025.
The LSVb student union is calling on the government to step in with new housing schemes and tighter regulations to preserve shared living options. Without swift intervention, thousands of students risk ending up in overcrowded dormitories or reliant on the competitive—and increasingly costly—private rental market.
