Student housing: Ile-de-France region is the most affected region, according to a report

According to the financial magistrates, public support for student housing is the responsibility of "various stakeholders" without a "defined overall policy" or real coordination "beyond that which exists between the Ministries of Housing and Higher Education."

So much so that no actor "feels totally responsible for this action."

At the start of the 2023 academic year, 2,97 million students were enrolled in French higher education, 25% more than in 2012.

To absorb this demographic shock, the State has successfully mobilized common law measures such as personal housing assistance (APL) while 69.300 social student housing units (+39%) have been created.

While the public effort is indeed targeting the most modest students, who benefit from increased APL (housing aid) and priority access to Crous housing, this support is "not sufficient to meet all of the demand, particularly in urban areas with housing shortages."

In fact, the public authorities have not "set themselves the target of reducing disparities between territories and ensuring reinforced action for those whose conditions of access to housing are the most difficult, primarily the Île-de-France region."

In this region, "the conditions for access to student housing are the most difficult in the country," the magistrates warn.

The reasons include significant tension in the affordable housing market, but also a "lack of common governance" in an area with twelve higher education areas.

Despite a catch-up between 2012 and 2017, the number of social care places in Ile-de-France is 7,37 per 100 students, below the national average (8,2).

APL does not correct the rent gap with the private sector, covering only 39% of the rent excluding charges in Paris in 2023.

The Court also points to "threshold effects" for low-income students who are not on scholarships.

In addition, a portion of Crous places is reserved at "20% to 30%" by higher education establishments to accommodate students on international mobility.

"This situation, combined with the density of higher education establishments and public transport in the Île-de-France region, results in a rising cohabitation rate, almost twice that of other regions (47%, compared to 27%) and longer transport times," the report further underlines, calling for a "change of strategy."