Unaffordable rents, undesirable shared flats

Rafieh Mosaheb was luckier than others. When she arrived in Luxembourg on the first of April 2021, she had booked a hotel as a precaution. "Because I didn't know where to stay, I booked a hotel here for a fortnight, I had no friends here." For around 90 euros a night. A lot of money for the Iranian woman.

Two weeks earlier, she had received the papers enabling her to do a doctorate in cryptology at the University of Luxembourg. Only when her entry had been cleared was she able to contact the student service of the University of Luxembourg (Seve), from whom she was to receive an offer within a month. But time ran out for Rafieh Mosaheb. From Estonia, her first place of study, the now 31-year-old made the journey to the Grand Duchy. She had everything important with her. Only the flat was missing.

Her research group had advised her to stay temporarily in the youth hostel in Esch/Alzette. But that was fully booked. She scoured the internet for holiday flats. After her first night in a hotel, she went to see the Seve in person, hoping to find an alternative to the hotel quickly until she could get a flat from the university. She was lucky. Because in the middle of the semester, a studio was available in a hall of residence on Belval. Mosaheb was able to move in immediately. However, a "small shock" mixed in with the feeling of relief. Rafieh Mosaheb had to pay about 740 euros a month (including utilities) for her studio. "My salary was twice as high (compared to Estonia, ed.), but the rent was three times higher."

Yet the cost of a flat managed by the University of Luxembourg is below market prices. For a single room with private bathroom and shared kitchen, the average monthly rent is 500 euros. A one-bedroom flat (24 square metres) is in the range of 700 euros. With ten square metres more, a flat for a couple costs an average of 1,050 euros. Utilities like water, electricity, gas, heating and internet included. By way of comparison, a furnished studio in Belval (27m²) was advertised at 1,050 euros at the end of November, another, slightly larger one (38m²) furnished for 1,330 euros per month – both cold rent. A one-bedroom flat with an area of 56 m² was available for 1,250 euros (cold rent).