Author: Zhengqi Jin (Wibbly)
Publised: Fall 2022
Since mid-November, the demand for rental housing near Chashan University Town and Li Ou community near Wenzhou-Kean University has skyrocketed. Many homes only remain vacant for less than a month.
A homeowner in Li Ou’ Jinyuan is preparing his apartment for the arrival of new tenants. Tuesday, December 6, 2022 [Photo/Zhengqi Jin]
University students are driving the increased demand for rental housing. Mr. Li, a housing rental agency, who is mainly in charge of housing rental in Li Ou’ neighborhood near WKU, said “Recently, there have been a lot of people coming to see the house, most of them are students, and there will be another person coming to see the house in a while!”
The number of students who want to live off-campus is also growing. Mr. Li believes students do not want to be shackled by Covid restrictions on-campus that require them to return to school before midnight.
Covid restrictions aside, some students have other motives for living off-campus. “Many couples come to rent a house together!” said Mr. Li Chen. It is not uncommon for a male WKU student to rent a house with his girlfriend because the price of renting a house would be the same as that of school accommodation if the two shared the rent. Moreover, living outside the school can have a better emotional life and private space.
The same is true in the vicinity of Chashan University Town in Wenzhou. Ms. Fu, who oversees renting houses near Dashan Mountain, said: "Under the Covid-19, students are afraid of closing the school, and prefer to find rented houses outside the school."
Some properties have gone up by 1,000 yuan in a week because too many people want to rent, Mr. Li said. But even so, there are still many people who express their interest in leasing, and some students are even willing to buy furniture by themselves.
Homeowners are debating whether another increase in rental prices is necessary and by how much. Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2022 [Photo/Zhengqi Jin]
Both Mr. Li and Ms. Fu recommend that students who are considering renting off-campus choose houses during the summer vacation, because a large number of houses will be vacant due to the departure of graduates. During summer, students will have more affordable prices and choices at that time.
Comments