The lack of housing is widespread throughout the country and a major social problem that hits economically weak and otherwise vulnerable groups particularly hard. Students and doctoral students are a group that is greatly affected by the lack of housing, which has a negative impact on both health and the ability to complete their studies. The lack of housing also makes many hesitate to study in a certain location. This contributes to increased biased recruitment to the country's education systems.
Students are one of the groups that are hit very hard in a situation where there is a housing shortage, since students generally have a tight budget and often have to move to new locations to study. Many students are young and have therefore not had the opportunity to stand in a housing queue for a long time. In a situation with a housing shortage, it is therefore important that there is housing that is earmarked for students, where students can live throughout their studies. However, SFS believes that the housing category “student housing” should be abolished in the long term, as the needs of the student population vary just like those of the general population. However, the legal form of student housing fulfills a very important function as long as there is a housing shortage.
SFS believes that the state, regions and municipalities should have a joint responsibility for housing supply in Sweden. The higher education institutions should have a responsibility to have a good dialogue with the municipalities and regions about how the size of the student group is expected to develop, and to work to ensure that the municipality provides students with housing. The higher education institutions also have a responsibility to provide information about the housing situation in the location they are located in and to ensure that the information conveys a fair picture of the situation to the students.
SFS urges housing companies to provide housing with different types of contracts, such as shared apartments, double apartments and collectives. Few students can afford to buy a home. Therefore, it is important that all conversions of municipal rental apartments into condominiums are stopped, as this reduces the availability of rental apartments for students to rent.
To make it easier for students to live, SFS suggests, among other things:
- Each municipality has a common housing queue that allows for the existence of different types of contract forms with special rules, e.g. for students with children.
- Students' rent does not exceed 35% of a student's income in the form of study grants and any housing allowance.
- Housing allowances are being made increasingly available to students.
- Municipalities or geographical regions provide subletting agencies, so that subletting can take place safely.
- Students who do VFU (work-based education) receive compensation for high accommodation costs during mandatory training sessions at another location.
- Housing is provided specifically for international students.
- New housing is built with the help of public incentives, such as investment support, linked to requirements for lower rents.
- that regulations and requirements for the construction of housing are reviewed, without lowering the quality of life in these homes for that reason.
- The municipal public utility takes its social responsibility for housing supply.
- Taxation of housing becomes neutral with respect to the form of lease so that rental rights are not taxed more heavily than condominium rights.
- Review the planning process so that the time between decisions and putting the shovel in the ground is shorter.
- Construction implementation times are shortened.
- possibly review temporary building permits to solve the most urgent housing shortage.