Student housing: with more requests than in 2023, the Crous of Montpellier is preparing for a large influx

Sandrine Cloarec et le Crous s’attendent à une forte demande, comme chaque année. Midi Libre – JEAN MICHEL MART

The leading student landlord in France, the Crous has already received thousands of housing requests for the 2024 school year.

Always in demand but only able to accommodate around 10% of the 80,000 Montpellier students, the Crous de Montpellier-Occitanie is once again preparing to experience a summer in tight flow with demands that don't stop.

With 8 243 beds distributed in 8 204 housing units, the public establishment of Montpellier will not be able to respond positively to all requests. "Throughout the academy, we have already received 37 475 applications, i.e. 1 500 applications more than last year even though the campaign had started later. For the city of Montpellier, this represents around 23,000 students", specifies Sandrine Cloarec, general director of Crous.

150 new housing units this year

To respond positively to the greatest number, the Crous has already built 1,820 additional housing units between 2012 and 2022, and will continue in this direction by expanding its offer with 542 new housing units. 150 studios in the Boutonnet district will be built this year, some during the summer and the other by the end of 2024. 290 housing units will also open their doors during 2025 next to the Voie Domitienne estate. While the transformation of the old chemistry school backing onto the Philippidès stadium will create 102 new housing units for the 2025 school year.

"Apart from these projects, we are trying to increase capacity by increasing density in height or on the sides. A study is being conducted on the Triolet site", explains the general director of the Montpellier-Occitanie Crous. Projects that are part of the government's desire to create "35,000 new affordable housing units by the end of the five-year term and to renovate the last dilapidated Crous residences."

Important Crous dates to remember

June 10   10: end of housing wish deposits. You can send a maximum of 4 wishes, all cities and Crous combined, after having completed your Student Social File (DSE).

June 11: first round of housing allocation. Reception of a response by email and/or SMS at the end of the day.

June 13: Confirmation of choice. You have 48 hours to confirm the accommodation offer.

July 4: If you don't get a positive response, three more cycles Allocations will take place every week until July 4.

More information on  messervices.etudiant.gouv.fr.

To benefit from these new rentals, students must first complete their student social file (DSE) on messervices.etudiant.gouv.fr. They can also turn to Lokaviz, a center for private student housing but also managed by the Crous. "We are trying to promote it. I would like to encourage Montpellier owners to post ads on it to create a bigger offer, hopes Sandrine Cloarec.