Seeking student accommodation in Stellenbosch
The scarcity of student accommodation in South Africa’s premier university town, Stellenbosch, is nothing new. This shortage of suitable lodgings for young people who are furthering their education and securing their future has presented a longstanding problem for university authorities, students, and their parents or sponsors.
Highly ranked popular university
Stellenbosch University is one of the country’s most popular and academically sound universities, ranked as 3rd in the 2018 SA Rankings. Its popularity is undoubtedly due to numerous additional factors – its scenic location in a valley, surrounded by the magnificent, mighty mountain ranges, its position in the midst of the Cape wine route, and its proximity to Cape Town, plus the fact that much of the modern lifestyle, livelihood, and economy of the town is based on or around the university and its student body.
Skewed supply of and demand for accommodation
Demand by far outstrips supply of suitable or any type of student accommodation in Stellenbosch. There simply isn’t enough on offer, especially taking into account that the university enrols far more students than its official university residences can possibly accommodate. Moreover, many young people come to Stellenbosch from all over South Africa and further afield, so those enrolling for studies have no other alternative but to seek student accommodation here, as near to the campus as is possible.
Facts, figures, and stats
Currently, there are 31 students’ residences owned and/or approved by the university, offering accommodation to 6 500 Maties (students of Stellenbosch University). These figures exclude the Tygerberg medical campus (Faculty of Health Sciences) and its five separate residences, which accommodate a further 1 000 medical students.
Two other faculties are also located elsewhere and there are ten university faculties, which are divided into 150 departments, plus more than 40 research facilities in and around the town. A year ago, in 2018, a total of 31 765 learners were enrolled at Stellenbosch University, 63,5% being undergraduates, most of whom are likely to have required living quarters near campus.
Parking in town is limited – likewise for privately owned students’ vehicles on campus. It’s incumbent upon enrolled persons to apply for a parking space, but there’s no guarantee that university-sanctioned parking permission and space will be granted – again because of the disparity in applications versus available facilities.
Adversity creates opportunities
As happens frequently, adversity or adverse conditions create opportunities. If you’re alert to new opportunities of a property and student accommodation type, Stellenbosch is the place and Fine & Country South Africa is your preferred property expert, who is armed with local knowledge and world-class expertise.
Each Fine & Country South Africa estate agent is a qualified, committed, and ethical property expert, who has market-related information at their fingertips, as well as in-depth knowledge of the area in which he or she operates. Consequently, your Fine & Country South Africa agent is perfectly placed to supply you with up-to-date information on what it’s really like to reside, work, commute, and spend leisure time in the upmarket location and residence of your choice.
The same applies to your future role as a pure property investor, landlord, or private owner of student accommodation in Stellenbosch, plus the investment or growth potential of your newly acquired residential accommodation property.
Information passed on to you by our consultants is invaluable, because it’s the type of communication that some estate agents fail to share with clients. If you are the parent of a youngster who has thus far had difficulty in locating suitable student accommodation in Stellenbosch, or you’re a property investor or prospective landlord, you’re well advised to engage one of our Stellenbosch specialists to aid and assist you in all aspects of your new endeavour.
