Homestay Rental in Wageningen becomes more popular
The amount of students living in homestay rental situations increased up to 400 in the past 3 years. This is partly the result of a successful campaign, which will therefor be prolongued.
The number of students living with a host in Wageningen has increased to 400 over the past three years. This growth is partly the result of a successful campaign by the Municipality of Wageningen, in collaboration with Wageningen University & Research (WUR) and homestay rental platform Hospi Housing. However, the full potential has yet to be realized. That’s why the partners continue the campaign this summer.
With this campaign, the municipality aims to reach residents interested in renting out a room in their homes. It’s not feasible for everyone, but if you have extra space, this could be a great temporary solution. You help someone in need of housing, enjoy some company, and earn a bit of extra income.
Strong Interest Among Wageningen Residents
At the information evening on Wednesday, June 11, about house splitting and shared housing, the interest among residents was clearly visible. There were hosts who have been renting out rooms for over 30 years, as well as residents exploring the possibilities for the first time. Wageningen has a social culture when it comes to shared housing, which is further supported by the municipality’s active promotion of such solutions, including host arrangements.
Since 2023, Hospi Housing has been supporting the municipality and WUR in informing residents about host rental opportunities. The organization also helps guide both hosts and tenants, make suitable matches, and set up rental contracts. Since the campaign’s launch, over 70 hosts and guest families have joined the initiative. That’s encouraging news, but with around 2,000 students still searching for rooms, the demand for housing remains high.
Continued Collaboration for More Rentals
The Municipality of Wageningen, Hospi Housing, and WUR are continuing their successful partnership to expand host rentals. This extension follows a promising first phase in which host renting has been firmly established as a social, sustainable, and affordable solution to the room shortage.
Thanks to its personal nature - and the fact that average room prices are lower than in the regular rental market (€338 vs. €359 per month) - the initiative helps promote affordable housing and combat loneliness. Combined with the national campaign ‘Your Home of Great Value’, host renting is now recognized nationwide as a valuable housing solution, with growing interest across the country.
Next Steps: Expansion, Online Visibility, and Emergency Housing Support
Hospi Housing aims to increase the number of hosts in Wageningen in the near future. Targeted investments are being made to boost the online visibility of host renting. More hosts mean that more people - whether seeking short-term or long-term housing - can find a suitable home in a sustainable way.
The existing SOS network is also being expanded. This safety net offers rooms to students who urgently need housing, helping prevent vulnerable situations. Hosts can make a room available for a short period and support students in need. For many hosts, this offers a low-threshold way to try out hosting and see how it suits them.
Do you have a spare room in your house that's currently unused? Visit the website of the Municipality of Wageningen to learn more or register for free with Hospi Housing. They can help answer your questions and find the best solution for your situation.