Students in France are encountering growing challenges in securing affordable housing, particularly in major cities like Paris. According to the real estate platform Bien Ici, the median rent for a studio in Paris reached 1,200 euros per month in August, a significant increase from previous years. Most student housing is in private rentals, with fewer options available in university-run residences or other alternative housing models. The competition for these rentals is intense, with students often needing to search for months or explore other temporary solutions while waiting for a suitable place. The housing crisis has worsened since 2019, with a 30% decline in available rental properties in the Paris region on the SeLoger platform. Between August 2025 and August 2026, the supply of studios in Paris dropped by 12.7%, with similar decreases observed in other cities like Aix-en-Provence, Strasbourg, and Toulouse. Factors contributing to this shortage include the rise of short-term rentals, vacant homes, bans on renting energy-inefficient properties, and the lack of effective tax incentives to encourage housing supply. Additionally, the market is being squeezed by single occupants and workers who stay in Paris for short periods, further reducing availability. Despite government-imposed rent caps, prices have continued to rise, with Paris studios now averaging 1,200 euros per month. In contrast, cities like Nice, Lyon, and Bordeaux have seen lower rental prices. Some investors are taking advantage of the situation by purchasing apartments and dividing them into smaller units to rent out. Anthony Luxton, director of 35 Orpi agencies in Île-de-France, noted that some real estate agents avoid being overwhelmed by calls by removing their ads on Sunday evenings, as properties are often rented within days. In the meantime, some students are forced to live in tourist accommodations while searching for long-term housing. Universities are increasingly relying on private rental markets to house students, but the competition remains fierce and depends on the strength of applications. A free guarantee service called Visual Guarantee from Action Logement helps weaker applicants secure a guarantee that protects landlords from unpaid rent, without requiring a paid guarantee. However, even with these measures, housing shortages persist, especially in CROUS (Centres régionaux des œuvres universitaires et scolaires) residences, which are also facing a lack of available spots. Some universities have partnered with private real estate platforms, which charge reservation fees that can reach up to 400 euros in major cities. In response to the crisis, some affluent parents are investing in housing for their children, though this comes with risks, particularly when purchasing energy-inefficient properties that may be difficult to resell. Alternative solutions like intergenerational housing and mixed life annuities are emerging but remain limited in availability. Experts emphasize the need to build more accessible student housing that can be repurposed in the future, as demand for small accommodations is expected to stay strong, even as student numbers decline due to lower birth rates and an aging population.