Student accomodation: Mutually rewarding

The figures themselves are very encour­aging. More than 2,700 young men and women matriculated to study for a Bachelor degree at ETH Zurich in au­tumn 2013. They all contribute to a further increase in the total number of students. More than 18,000 are now studying for a Bachelor, Master or PhD at ETH Zurich – a new record for  the university. And there are no signs of an end to this growth. In its plans, the Ex­ecutive Board of ETH Zurich is count­ing on this trend continuing over the next few years.

The downside to growth

There is a similar picture at the Uni­versity of Zurich. Around 26,600 stu­dents are matriculated there, 3,500 more than a decade ago. The dynamic development of Zurich as a university city is also reflected in building activ­ities at the two universities. Both ETH and the University have erected new research and teaching buildings in re­cent years, particularly at the two sites of Hönggerberg and Irchel. The addi­tional students don’t just need audito­ria, but also laboratories and worksta­tions.

This positive development for both universities has a downside, however, because there is also an increased need for reasonably priced accommo­dation – and this in an environment characterised by a very tight housing market. Cheap accommodation has become a scarce commodity in the Zurich region, and this is what makes it so difficult for students to find somewhere suitable to live. "The de­mand is very high, particularly at the beginning of the autumn semester when many new students move to Zurich", explains Pascal Felber from the Housing Office of University and ETH Zurich.

To cater better for this demand, new student residences have been constructed over the last few years. For instance, this spring the external page Studentische Wohngenossenschaft Zürich (Student housing cooperative) is to open two new buildings: a residence with 103 rooms on Bahnhaldenstrassein Zurich Oerlikon, and the Aspholz development in Zurich-Affoltern with over 330 rooms, erected by the Stiftung für Studentisches Wohnen (Foundation for student living). And last but not least there will soon be new housing for students near the ETH Hönggerberg. Together with pri­vate investors, ETH Zurich is to put up five residences for a total of 1,000 students.

Appeal to alumni

Urgently needed additional accom­modation is being created with these new student residences. However, the demand is far from being met. "We are still in desperate need of private rooms or flats for students", explains Pascal Felber. Together with the ETH Alumni Office the Housing Office therefore made an appeal last spring to former students of ETH Zurich.

"With our letter we wanted to encour­age alumni to make their empty rooms available as student accommodation", says Felber. Around two dozen alumni responded to the Housing Office using the reply coupon. Other alumni placed an advertisement directly on the Office’s online platform.

Mutual exchange

One of the alumni who posted an ad is Roland Hänni. This independent project manager graduated from ETH in mechanical engineering in 1985 and is today an active member of the alumni group AMIV. He is very famil­iar with the difficulties that students face in trying to find cheap accommo­dation in Zurich – not just from his own experience, but because his elder son is also studying at ETH Zurich.

When the second of his two daughters moved out last year, Roland Hänni and his wife realised the time had come to make the empty room availa­ble to other students. "I think it’s a real shame when accommodation is left empty", is how he explains his thinking. "Particularly as we live close to Hönggerberg, in an ideal location for students."

Moritz Buchholz from Hanau (Ger­many) was one of the students who responded to the ad placed on the Housing Office platform. Hänni chose him because of his hobbies. Like Hänni’s younger son, Moritz too is an enthusiastic musician, and this results in a stimulating exchange for both parties. By chance, Hänni found out that Heiko Schönherr from Zuchwil in Canton Solothurn was also urgently looking for accommodation in Zurich. The Hännis have now made their small guestroom available to him dur­ing the week. For Heiko, too, this is an interesting exchange because Hänni’s older son is a fellow student of his. "Before we lived with our two daugh­ters and two sons under one roof. Now, we live with four young men", says Roland Hänni, smiling. "So, in fact, my wife and I still live in a kind of extended family."

"Frequently, we get feedback that leasing rooms to students is worth­while for both sides", observes Pascal Felber. "Many landlords see it as re­warding to have direct contact with the young generation." This is exactly what Hänni has experienced. "The contact with students is very enrich­ing for us." So for him it’s clear: "I can highly recommend other alumni to make empty living space available to students."