Around 30 students on Friday used tents and cardboard boxes to build a mock “student housing village” in front of the rectorate of the Free University of Brussels (VUB) in an act of protest against increased prices for student housing.
“Due to the high rental prices, not everyone has the opportunity to study anymore,” students told Bruzz.
Aymara Polanco is one of those students. She pays €321.70 per month to live in her current student housing, but next year, it will cost her €371.80.
“My parents don't have much money, so I mainly have to pay for my studies myself, and therefore also for my room,” said Aymara.
“That is why I already do two student jobs. I don't know how I will be able to find another €50 a month next year. Hopefully I can still go to school, because commuting is not an option for me, as I have to travel for two hours.”
International students especially hit by increases
“This is also a problem for international students,” said VUB student Salsabiel Maatougui, who follows the English-language Social Sciences programme.
“Many of my fellow students are internationals and therefore have to live in student housing.”
It isn’t just the standard rooms that will become more expensive: for a studio, students will have to pay €454.50 instead of €402.10. The rent for two-person flats will rise by almost €100 from €482.50 to €578 per month.
Velen moeten nu al meerdere studentenjobs werken om zelfs nog maar een kleine kamer te kunnen betalen. Dit kan zo niet verder. De VUB moet haar prijsverhoging terugdraaien. Daarom komen wij morgen op straat.
— Comac VUB (@comacVUB) April 21, 2022
VUB emphasised that it tries to keep the rent for koten as low as possible.
“A rent of €371.8 per month is still, relatively speaking, cheap for the Brussels student housing market,” said VUB spokesperson Lies Feron.
“At VUB, the rent of the building units includes costs. The increase of the rent is caused by inflation and especially by much more expensive energy. The student council also saw no other solution and approved the increase.”
Rent allowances available for some students
Students who meet specific criteria can apply for a rent allowance that amounts to €90 per month for a VUB room and €100 euros for student rooms on the private market.
But “the rent allowance that the VUB grants to students with financial difficulties has decreased in the meantime,” said Anna Milojkowic of Comac, the PVDA student movement that organised the action together with Jongsocialisten.
“In 2019, it was €110. Now it has dropped to €90 for a VUB room, while the rent increases.”
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According to the VUB, that decision was made because the number of applications for rent allowances had risen sharply.
“The allowance was reduced so that we could help all students and no students would be left out,” said Feron.
“Students who still have financial needs in addition to the rent allowance can also apply for reduced tuition fees, a social allowance or an interest-free VUB loan. For acute emergency situations, the financial support of the Caroline Pauwels Emergency Fund can also be called upon.”
