<h1>Interest in university dormitories is high, demand surplus attracts companies</h1>

Pavel Hnilička Architects: Student House, Prague-Holešovice

Prague – Interest in student housing at university dormitories in Prague remains high for several years. This year, it is similar or even greater than last year. Some students were therefore unsuccessful with their applications for dormitory places. They will likely have a better chance later in the fall, as room occupancy usually decreases after the start of the academic year. This follows from responses from university representatives. The excess demand for dormitories attracts companies. They offer students accommodation in private student houses, for example.

The demand for dormitories has increased in recent years in response to rising apartment prices. While the cost of accommodation in dormitories ranges approximately between 2300 and 4500 crowns per month, renting a 2+KK apartment with an area of 54 m² in Prague averaged about 17,700 CZK per month in the second quarter of this year. Apartments are also hard for students to find because landlords prefer other applicants. Additionally, living in dormitories eliminates the worry of finding roommates for young people.

For example, at the Czech University of Life Sciences (ČZU), interest in dormitories has increased by 60 percent over the last three years, said Jana Rácová, director of the university's dormitories and canteens, to ČTK. At the Czech Technical University (ČVUT), according to dormitory manager Petra Solimanová, demand for dormitories has risen by 15 percent year-on-year, and at the University of Economics (VŠE), according to spokeswoman Martina Mlynářová, it has risen by ten percent. The University of Chemistry and Technology (VŠCHT) recorded the same level of interest in student accommodation this year as last year, added spokesman Michal Janovský.

Charles University (UK) has observed significant interest in dormitories over the past two years, according to the head of the university's dormitories, Miroslava Hurdová. The total capacity of the dormitories at the oldest and largest university in the Czech Republic is currently 11,229 beds, with over 8500 applicants newly requesting accommodation, and about ten to 15 percent of them have been unsuccessful, she said. A similar proportion of applications was rejected by ČVUT.

Those interested in dormitories at ČZU are in a worse position. "Of the total number of applications, 38.62 percent were unsuccessful," Rácová stated. In contrast, the situation is better at the University of Chemistry and Technology, which, according to Janovský, has dormitories for 1500 students and some residents are gradually deregistering. "Currently, 20 students are not accommodated, but based on last year's experience, we expect that they will also have their place in the dormitory by the start of the semester," said the spokesman. VŠE may also manage to accommodate all its own students.

Currently, developers are also offering student accommodation to unsuccessful applicants for dormitories. For example, the company Zeitraum currently has about 420 beds prepared for students in four newly renovated buildings in Prague.

"In addition to individual students, who make up about 30 percent of those accommodated in our student houses, we also cooperate with more than twenty universities. According to agreements, we guarantee a certain number of beds to universities, which in some cases even means an entire floor," said Lukáš Drásta, head of business development at the company. There is significant interest in the concept of private student accommodation, so the company plans to expand it to other university cities.

Due to high interest in dormitories, ČZU and UK plan to expand their accommodation capacities in the coming years. ČZU plans an extension for 44 new beds; spatial conditions on the campus currently do not allow for more, Rácová stated. UK intends to increase the capacity of the dormitories in Hostivař by 200 places next year. Other contacted universities do not plan similar changes. All universities are gradually renovating their dormitories. According to representatives of ČZU and VŠE, further investments are needed mainly into social facilities and room furnishings. In the coming years, schools will be able to utilize funds from a grant program by the Ministry of Education, which anticipates support for investments in dormitories and canteens totaling 2.5 billion crowns by 2027.

Any potential increase in student accommodation prices should, according to university representatives, correspond to inflation. Currently, dormitory prices range from about 72 to 146 crowns per night, depending on the type of room or location.