In Milan there are approximately 74.000 offsite students¹.
How does their housing situation look like?
[1] data estimated by MaudLab on MIUR database AA 2022/2023. *data estimated from StudMIHome 2024 survey on a sample of 4.709 answers.
Distribution of monthly rental price for a 80smq apartment. Source: StudMIHome survey 2024.
Challenges in the housing market
- Sustainable accommodation of relatively good quality are often found only through personal networks and word of mouth.
- High demand extends the average search time to 6 weeks. Students usually begin to look for a room months before they come to Milan and sometimes are not even able to see their apartment before signing a contract.
- Searching for accommodation in a shortage-state market also exposes students to some risk of encountering fraud, scams and malpractices. Some of them include the demand for unjustified warranties, the withholding of deposits, and the demand to pay brokerage fees even in the absence of a guarantee of the successful outcome of the service offered.
- International students face more difficulties primarily due to language barriers, the complexity of bureaucratic procedures in university and immigration-related administrative processes.
- Moving often happens in a strict time frame, entailing the necessity to consider many variables in a short time.
Below you can find some insights coming from our survey on 4.709 students living in Milan. Every housing story is different and can be a beautiful learning experience or an exhausting one. Please ask for help when in need and check our resources.
According to our recent survey, 80% of Italian students and 72% of international students begin their housing search remotely from abroad.
In the first weeks after the arrival in Milan, 8.2% of Italians and 18.8% of international students initially stay in temporary accommodations such as AirBnB, hostels, or hotels.
On average, students take just over seven weeks to find their accommodation. Specifically, 43.1% take up to four weeks, 31.2% take up to eight weeks, 15% take up to 12 weeks, and 15.6% take more than three months.
Good quality and affordable housing in Milan is often found through personal networks and word of mouth, used by 37.2% of students at the start of their stay.
Other methods include digital platforms (34.2%), estate agencies (29.5%), and online groups like Facebook, WhatsApp, Telegram, and WeChat (24.5%).
Students face risks of fraud and scams in the housing market, with 32.2% of Italian students and 51% of international students asked to pay before seeing the apartment.
Consult our guide on how to avoid scams.
Access to housing can be marred by malpractices such as unjustified warranties, withheld deposits, and brokerage fees without guaranteed services. Foreign students may encounter additional difficulties due to language barriers.
Before signing a contract read our FAQ page and if you need more help, e-mail us.
Most Polimi students (80%) live with others, with 60% living with more than one person. About 57% have single rooms, while the rest share rooms. Italian students predominantly live with other Italians (80%), whereas 81.5% of international students live in a mixed cultural environment.
The average rent for a single room is 637 Euros and 492 Euros for a shared room. However, new arrivals may find higher prices, with single rooms in Milan costing around 700 Euros per month according to Immobiliare.it data. Prices are lower outside the Milan municipality.
Living with flatmates can be a valuable learning experience but may also present challenges due to differences in habits, attitudes, and care of shared spaces. Clarifying house rules with flatmates and landlords from the beginning is essential.
According to our survey about 63% of respondents have changed housing during their studies.
Nearly half of these changes are due to non-renewal of contracts or sudden unavailability of the accommodation.
Students should be prepared for bureaucratic procedures and the need to present additional housing documents to authorities and the Politecnico DSU office. It’s crucial to carefully read all documents from the DSU office.
Please, always inform DSU offices if you are facing problems with your housing situation or if you need to change your apartment. You might lose your scholarship otherwise.
Leaving an apartment can be problematic, often involving disputes over deposits.
Moving usually occurs within a strict timeframe, necessitating the consideration of various factors quickly. Reading and understanding the contract clauses regarding leaving the dwelling is very important.
Always take pictures of your house before entering. If you think your landlord is keeping your deposit for no valuable reason, please contact us.