– Fears that it could become the longest queue – E24

NHO Byggenæringen believes that building more student housing will help a construction industry in crisis. At the same time, they say that the government must take strong measures to reach the target of 3,000 new student homes a year.

– We believe that building more student accommodation is a good move, as it covers several important societal needs, says Nina Solli, managing director of NHO Byggenæringen.

The umbrella organization is now asking the government to speed up the development of student accommodation.

At the start of studies in August last year, over 4,000 students were on a waiting list to get accommodation at the student cooperatives around the country, according to the Confederation Council.

Several students have already started the housing hunt ahead of the start of this year’s studies.

NHO Byggenæringen believes the queue will be even longer in the autumn and in the years to come, due to fewer new homes, an influx of refugees and poorer conditions for landlords.

– We fear that there could be a long queue for student accommodation in the autumn, so now it is time for the government to start showing its dynamism. Everyone wants to help the students, and it must be shown with action, says Solli.

– Starting to rush

In the Hurdalsplatformen, the government writes that it aims to build 3,000 student homes a year. Solli has no doubt that the government must take action in the revised national budget, which will be presented on 14 May, if they are to achieve these goals.

– The government is far from its own target of building 3,000 new student homes a year, as they say in the Hurdal platform. It is becoming urgent if they want to achieve this goal, she says.

In March, the government announced that in 2024 it would provide NOK 657 million for 1,650 new student housing.

Solli believes this is far from enough. NHO has given input in meetings with politicians that increased funding will benefit society in several areas.

– This is a nest egg for the government, where they can contribute to several important social purposes. Now they have the opportunity to retain important skills in the construction industry, utilize available capacity in the market and they can help secure access to housing for the students.

To help the industry

The construction industry has been hit hard by repeated interest rate hikes and an increased cost framework. A number of companies have gone bankrupt so far this year, and several entrepreneurs are now asking for measures from the politicians.

NHO The Construction Industry has previously warned that the drop in activity in the construction industry could lead to up to 60,000 man-years being lost in the coming years, and that important expertise could disappear from the industry.

Nina Solli believes that the construction of student housing can be of great help to an industry under pressure.

– The construction industry is in a serious situation with a massive decline. That is why we are keen to get building activity up. Now there is a lot of free capacity, so building student accommodation is a good move. Extra effort today ensures that we retain expertise tomorrow. Then we avoid a housing price increase that no one benefits from, she says.

At the same time, the organization believes that more actors should be given the green light to develop student accommodation.

– If the student cooperatives do not have the capacity or enough plots themselves, it should be opened up so that other players can also build student housing. These must be given the same prerequisites as the cooperatives to expand. The financing scheme for private individuals, which was removed in 2020, we believe should be revived. It can be a good boost for the market in general, says Nina Solli.

Thinks the government is showing dynamism

Ivar B. Prestbakmo (Sp), state secretary in the Ministry of Education, writes in an e-mail to E24 that the government is showing action when it comes to building student housing, and that it is one of the most important steps they are taking to give students better finances.

At the same time, it has been a challenge to get enough applications ready for construction, according to Prestbakmo.

– In recent years, several student associations have returned grants which they have not been able to realise. That is why the government has increased the cost limit for student dormitories, he writes.

The State Secretary believes that the student cooperatives are best suited to run student housing construction, because they guarantee student management, long-term ownership and student-friendly prices.

– If private individuals are to build, there will also be less money for student welfare, because all profit goes back to the students, he writes, and points out that the student associations also run daycare centers, health services and sports facilities.

Prestbakmo says that the government has already taken several measures, such as increasing the loan limit in the Housing Bank by NOK five billion in 2024, and giving greater flexibility to the student cooperatives.

– I am impatient on behalf of the students, and I will be clear to the student associations that the pace of construction must increase. It is also important that the municipalities, especially the big cities, pick up the pace of regulation, and areas for student housing must be prioritized, writes Prestbakmo.