Student accommodation in Thessaloniki

A brief guide to student accommodation in Thessaloniki

According to the Greek Ministry of Education, there are approximately 330,000 students in Greek public universities at any one time. Thessaloniki accounts for nearly 1/3 of the total number of students in Greece with an estimated 100,000 students (including those attending private universities and other higher education establishments).

For a city of 800,000 inhabitants (city population in 2011), this means a particularly high proportion of students, which is evident from the lively atmosphere and nightlife. Most of the students come from other Greek cities, from Europe through exchange programs, and from the Balkan countries to study at high-quality private universities. Estimating that on average a full-time student spends around 4 years in Thessaloniki (exchange students excluded), this means that there are approximately 25,000 new students in the city each year. And everyone needs a place to stay…

This article will provide a brief guide on the types of student accommodation available, the areas, the prices and the aspects to consider regarding student accommodation in Thessaloniki.

1. Types of student accommodation

1a. University public residences.

The University of Thessaloniki offers dormitories to students, based on need and primarily financial criteria. They are provided free of charge. In practice, this means that it is quite difficult to get a bedroom, even if you qualify for it. Most of the dorms are located near the university campus, but their quality is very low and maintenance is a big issue, along with security issues, etc.

1 B. University Student Hostels.

These are private properties (complete buildings) that are sublet by the University and are mainly provided to exchange students who require accommodation for a few weeks or months. They are usually ERASMUS students. As of 2011 there are two student hostels, “Matsi Street 7” and “Kassandrou Street 134”, both of which are very close to the university. They offer fully furnished “dormitory-style” rooms with private bathroom and kitchenette (Kassandrou 134), single and double rooms, laundry area and wireless Internet access.

1C Private hostels.

For students who wish to stay only a few days or weeks, these hostels are more appropriate and a better solution than a hotel. However, these are hard to find as private hostels that rent out rooms/beds by the day/week are not legal in Greece unless they are non-profit organisations.

1d. Private rental flats.

These are independent apartments (studio, 1 or 2 bedrooms) located throughout the city that students can rent to individuals. You can usually find them through real estate agents (beware) or online advertisements. You will have to find the right one that suits your needs. Most of them are unfurnished or partially furnished and are more suitable for students planning to stay in Thessaloniki for a few years (since you would have to buy appliances, fridge, kitchen, etc.).

When you move you will need to sign a contract with the DEI electricity company, the EYATH water and sewage company and the heating gas company (or oil if there is oil central heating). Keep in mind that in addition to rent, you’ll need to pay monthly “common” expenses (i.e. elevator maintenance, cleaning, community lighting, repairs, etc.), so check the approximate monthly amount beforehand, as it can vary much. Obviously this is not the best solution for a student coming to Thessaloniki for a few months or a year, as the hassle is too much.

1st. Rental of studios for students.

This is a new generation of student accommodation that is very popular with both full-time students and exchange students. This trend started in the late 90’s with a few companies offering this type of hosting. The main concept is that of a rental studio building, where each student has their own fully furnished private room with en-suite bathroom and fully equipped kitchen. This in effect creates a high quality private bedroom with single bed studios. The student atmosphere is maintained along with the feeling of privacy and security.

Some companies offer additional services such as laundry area, gym, storage for bulky items, bicycle parking, etc. This solves the main problems that a student would have if they rented a studio from a private owner. In addition, some companies offer an ALL INCLUSIVE rental that includes heating, electricity, water, community fees, etc. even a fixed line ADSL internet connection. This way, students won’t have to deal with the Greek public authorities to get a contract for everything. This is especially suitable for exchange students who don’t have the time or knowledge to deal with this.

Finally, some companies also offer a series of additional security measures (fire alarms, access control cards, etc.). There is usually a doorman in these buildings for anything the students might need. However, be careful which company you choose, as few offer all of the above.

2. Student accommodation areas

Since the university campus is located in the city center of Thessaloniki, the most popular student accommodation areas are also located there. However, since the city center is expensive, most students look for properties to rent near the university on Egnatia street and mainly around Agiou Dimitriou and Kassandrou streets. Many student shops and cafes are located here as well.

Other areas popular with students are located towards the east side of the city, such as Depo, Toumpa, Harilaou, etc. However, these are far from the center on foot and lack the distinctive “student feel” of areas near the university. Also, the traffic can be very bad at certain times of the day towards the university.

In general, both the city center and the areas to the east are very safe throughout the day.

Lastly, there are the areas to the west of the city center such as Stavroupoli, Evosmos, etc. where rental prices are lower but these areas are not favored by students. They are very densely populated and traffic is also an issue, plus many students (and especially their parents) don’t choose these areas because they have a reputation for higher crime rates.

3. Accommodation prices

Rental prices range from €200 per month for an independent studio in Evosmos to €650 per month for a 2-bedroom apartment in the city center. Community fees can also range from 15 euros for a studio without central heating to 80 euros per month for an apartment with central heating. Of course, rental prices may fluctuate depending on the state of the flat/studio.

On average, a student will pay around €350 for an unfurnished studio near the university plus €30 per month for community fees. Do not forget to add to this the monthly cost of electricity, water, heating, telephone/internet, etc.

ALL INCLUSIVE prices for organized student studios that offer all kinds of amenities and include electricity bills, water, heating, hot water, internet, laundry, gym, etc. it can range between 390 and 460 euros per month for a furnished studio near the university. For the average student who wants to have the privacy of their own place, but also live the student life, this is the cheapest option that also saves you the hassle and stress of dealing with the Greek public sector. One last advantage is that you can plan your budget in advance, since you know how much your life will cost, so there will be no surprises at the end of the month…

4. Legal matters

To rent a private property, you need to know the following:

If you are an EU citizen, you will need to obtain a Tax Registration Number (ΑΦΜ) from your local tax office. This is an easy procedure that takes 5 minutes and only requires your passport. If you are not an EU citizen, you must first obtain a residence permit and then obtain the Previous Tax Registration Number. This is absolutely necessary to legally rent a property in Greece.

If you stay in a hotel, you should know that you cannot stay more than 3 months.

If you rent a property, you have to sign a lease.

Do not agree to stay in rental rooms without signing a lease, as this could get you in trouble. You should know that it is illegal to stay anywhere without a lease, unless it is a hotel.

Always insist that the landlord return a copy of the lease “stamped” by the tax office. It is not uncommon for landlords to rent properties without a lease or without an official “stamped” lease; this is illegal. Don’t put yourself in a position where you can get into trouble. Always require a formal lease to be signed.