Students searching for September housing are acting early: HousingAnywhere bookings up 30% in May

As the European academic year draws to a close, students across the continent are already thinking ahead. HousingAnywhere data reveals a 30% month-on-month rise in bookings in May 2026, as students in search of housing for the new semester start earlier — and benefit from it.

Rotterdam, 11 June 2026 - With university semesters across Europe set to begin in August and September, HousingAnywhere has recorded a significant acceleration in student activity on its platform. In May 2026, bookings grew by 30% compared to the previous month, and the number of students browsing available homes rose by approximately 15%. Of those who booked in May, 44% were already securing housing for an August or September move-in. At other times of the year, only 10% of students search for housing this well in advance.

The pattern reflects something students increasingly understand: an early search means a wider choice. Those who begin now have access to more properties, better value options, and a less pressured process. HousingAnywhere currently lists over 110,000 properties across more than 170 European student cities — a portfolio built over the winter to ensure students of all lifestyles can find housing that works for them.

Antonio Intini, CEO, HousingAnywhere:

“Finding a rental as a student is challenging as affordability remains a barrier and cities face supply constraints, but students have two powerful allies: technology and time. Platforms like HousingAnywhere are built around what students actually need: furnished properties, landlords open to student tenants, and a fully online process that makes costly in-person viewings a thing of the past. And those who start their search now will simply have more options. We have spent the winter building a diverse, verified portfolio across Europe so that every student can find a home that fits their lifestyle ahead of September."

The sharpest booking increases in May were recorded in the Czech Republic, Slovenia, and the Netherlands, followed by Spain and Hungary — markets home to some of Europe’s most popular student cities, including Prague, Ljubljana, Amsterdam, Barcelona, and Budapest.

In the Netherlands, the number of students searching for housing rose 16% month-on-month, with particularly strong activity in Delft (+34%), Maastricht (+29%), Utrecht (+28%), The Hague (+19%), and Amsterdam (+23%). The country’s housing pressures are well documented: according to a 2025 HousingAnywhere survey, 42% of tenants in the Netherlands reported that their housing search lasted three months or more, reflecting ongoing structural supply constraints. Students there have learned first-hand that early action is essential.

In Spain, student searches rose 18% month-on-month, with strong momentum not only in Madrid (+26%) and Barcelona (+23%) but also in cities such as Granada (+45%) and Bilbao (+30%), reflecting the broadening geographic appeal of Spanish higher education.

Italy recorded a 23% increase in students searching for accommodation compared to the previous month, with standout growth in Turin (+54%), Florence (+45%), and both Milan and Rome (+27%). The country’s student cities are drawing increasing interest from domestic and international students alike.

Germany, where the academic year starts later than in other key markets, registered a 7% rise in student searches in May. Activity was most pronounced in Frankfurt (+21%) and Munich (+20%), with broader momentum expected to build through June and July.

The cities preparing to welcome a new wave of students this autumn are not merely filling lecture halls. According to UNESCO’s first Higher Education Global Trends Report, published in 2026, international student mobility has tripled over the past two decades, with nearly 7.3 million students now studying abroad — half of them hosted in European and North American countries. The report projects this figure to reach nine million by 2030.

Students enrich the cities they live in — economically, culturally, and socially. They support local businesses, contribute to the urban economy, and increasingly represent the skilled workforce that European cities will depend on in the decades ahead. Ensuring they have access to safe, reliable, and affordable accommodation is not simply a market question: it is a prerequisite for their academic success and long-term integration.

With a fully online booking flow, verified listings, and furnished properties suited to medium-term stays, HousingAnywhere is designed to reduce the barriers that make finding housing stressful, and help students move to a new city smoothly to focus on what matters: studying and growing.

About HousingAnywhere

HousingAnywhere is Europe's leading rental platform for students. The marketplace offers a safe, online booking experience by connecting students from around the world with verified property providers across 125 European cities. Advertisers (from landlords to property managers) list their rooms, apartments and studios and collect their rent safely, while tenants stay protected online. HousingAnywhere users are usually 18–35 year-old students seeking mid-term rentals (6–12 months) to unlock the potential of the next chapter in their lives.

The HousingAnywhere Group represents three student-focused brands: HousingAnywhere (Europe), Kamernet (the Netherlands) and Studapart (France). In 2024, the HousingAnywhere and Studapart marketplaces collectively generated 60,000 bookings, and Kamernet had 80,000 paying subscribers. Headquartered in Rotterdam, the company employs 250 professionals.

Press contact

For more information, please contact press@housinganywhere.com. For more reports, go to the press page.