The student residence market in France

Student residences, developed on a massive scale in the 2000s, are large housing complexes specially designed to meet the needs of students and, in some cases, young professionals. These residences are often located close to educational establishments and offer a range of services to facilitate daily life, such as housekeeping, laundry, Internet access and sometimes administrative assistance. They are fully furnished and equipped for the immediate comfort of their residents.

There are two main types of residence: private student residences and public university residences. The latter, managed by the Crous or social landlords under the aegis of the Ministry of Higher Education, are not necessarily considered a market in the strict sense of the term. Nevertheless, they are included in the scope of this study, as they represent 50% of the student housing stock in France, and are essential to understanding the supply/demand dynamic, which is a key driver of the student residence market. Applicants for this type of accommodation are selected on social criteria such as parental income and scholarship status. Despite the high demand, places are very limited and require a Dossier Social Étudiant (DES).

In France, in 2023, there will be around 34,2000 student accommodation units, of which 175,000 will be managed by the Crous. Hostels, which are often run by associations and sometimes have a religious connotation, and which are mainly intended for young working people such as interns or apprentices, are not included in this study, as they are in a very small minority and provide little information.

The market is characterized by very strong, ever-increasing demand, and certain metropolises are particularly under pressure, with increasing international mobility among students. The recent real estate crisis has also had an impact on this market, which is suffering from a flight of investors and rising development costs for real estate projects.