Student housing crisis in Italy: Shared housing as a solution to high rents in 2026

Finding student accommodation in Italy has never been a smooth path, but in 2026, the search has become a real endurance test. The caro affitti (high rent) phenomenon is hitting the peninsula's major university cities hard. Faced with soaring prices and shrinking supply, fuori sede students and their families are left feeling overwhelmed. At Roomlala, we have analysed this unprecedented crisis to help you see things more clearly. Above all, we are guiding you towards the safest and most economical alternatives: shared housing and homestay.

Understanding the scale of the caro affitti in Italy in 2026

Rents reaching historic highs

In 2026, the Italian rental property market is going through a period of extreme turbulence, particularly in student cities. General inflation has had a snowball effect on rents, but it is primarily the imbalance between supply and demand that is dictating the market. Students leaving their home regions to pursue their studies are hitting a financial wall from the moment they start their search.

The figures speak for themselves and are dizzying. According to recent data, the average price of a single room has broken all records. You now need to pay around 729 euros per month in Milan, 625 euros in Florence, and 609 euros in Rome. These amounts represent staggering increases of up to 59% since 2020. Let's take the example of Luca, a master's student at the University of Milan: his accommodation budget alone swallows up almost all of his savings and family support, forcing him to work two part-time jobs.

How can such a surge be explained? One of the major factors is the uncontrolled proliferation of short-term tourist rentals. In cities with exceptional heritage such as Rome or Florence, many hosts prefer to rent to passing tourists rather than students for the long term. This dynamic drastically reduces the supply of long-term student housing and promotes aggressive property speculation.

The psychological and social consequences of this caro affitti are palpable. Many talented young people are giving up on their first-choice universities because they cannot afford the rent. This is where finding alternatives becomes not just an option, but an absolute necessity to maintain equal opportunities in access to higher education in Italy.

An institutional supply that is largely insufficient

Faced with this private market crisis, one might hope that the public sector would step in. Unfortunately, Italy suffers from a structural and historical lack of institutional student housing. Currently, public or subsidised university halls of residence only cover about 4% of the total student population, with a stock peaking at nearly 96,000 beds across the country.

This glaring deficit forces the vast majority of students to turn to a private market that is already saturated and overpriced. Aware of the urgency, the government has tried to react. Through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) and with the support of the Cassa Depositi e Prestiti, a massive fund of 599 million euros has been launched. The stated goal is ambitious: to create 60,000 additional beds by 2027.

However, there remains a huge gap between political announcements and the reality on the ground. Administrative delays, complex tender processes, and slow construction work are significantly holding back this plan in 2026. These government promises are not enough to relieve the immediate pressure on the demand for housing for the current academic year.

Consequently, students and their families cannot afford to wait for the completion of these new facilities. They must find concrete and immediately available solutions. It is against this backdrop of institutional shortage that platforms for shared housing come into their own, offering a much-needed breath of fresh air.

Financial aid and legal levers for fuori sede students

Fortunately, it is not all bleak for fuori sede students (those studying outside their home city). The Italian state offers tax relief mechanisms to help families bear the burden of rent. At Roomlala, we want you to know your rights so you can optimise your monthly budget.

In 2026, the flagship measure remains the 19% IRPEF tax deduction on rental costs. This aid is specifically designed for university student tenants. However, it is capped at a maximum of 2,633 euros per year. To be eligible, a strict geographical condition applies: the university must be located more than 100 kilometres from the student's usual place of residence, or in a different province.

Let's take a very concrete use case. Imagine Matteo, originally from Bari in Puglia, who moves to study at La Sapienza University in Rome. Since the distance between the two cities is well over 100 kilometres, Matteo's parents will be able to deduct 19% of his annual rent when they file their tax return. This allows them to recover up to about 500 euros, a significant sum to help cope with the cost of living in Rome.

Be careful, however; to benefit from this deduction, it is essential that the rental contract is duly registered with the Agenzia delle Entrate (the Italian tax authority). This is why we always advise you to avoid off-the-books arrangements (affitto in nero), which, in addition to being illegal, deprive you of these essential tax benefits and any legal protection in the event of a dispute with your host.

Shared housing and homestay: the real anti-crisis solutions

Why choose homestay?

Faced with the inflation of standard rents, homestay is emerging as one of the most viable and intelligent economic alternatives in 2026. The principle is simple: a host rents out an unoccupied room in their main residence to a student. Rents are generally much lower than those on the individual studio market.

Beyond the purely financial advantage, it is a deeply human solution. For a young fuori sede arriving in an unfamiliar city, living with a local person greatly facilitates integration. The host can share their top tips, advise on neighbourhoods to avoid, and offer a safe and welcoming living environment, far from the loneliness one can sometimes feel in a small studio.

Let's illustrate this with the example of Sofia, an architecture student in Florence. Faced with single rooms costing over 625 euros, she chose to rent a room with Maria, a Florentine retiree, for a much more affordable rate. In exchange for a few moments of conviviality and a caring presence, Sofia saves thousands of euros over her university year while enjoying a large, comfortable flat.

Furthermore, this type of accommodation offers great contractual flexibility. In Italy, it is common to use a transitional contract (contratto transitorio) that is perfectly adapted to the length of the university year. At Roomlala, we facilitate this connection between hosts looking to supplement their income and students in search of affordable accommodation.

Student shared housing, a reinvented classic

The other major pillar to combat the caro affitti is, of course, shared housing. While it has always existed, in 2026 it is experiencing an unprecedented resurgence in interest. Sharing a large flat with others allows you to drastically divide not only the rent, but also all the unavoidable utility bills: electricity, gas, internet, and sometimes even groceries thanks to bulk buying.

Shared housing is also a human adventure that forges lasting friendships. It is the creation of a micro-community of mutual aid where you share your doubts during exam periods, your meals, and your moments of relaxation. It is a real psychological safety net for students living far from their families.

For shared housing to be a success, a few ground rules are essential. Here are our best tips:

• Establish a house rules charter: Agree from day one on cleaning duties, quiet hours, and the management of guests.
• Use expense-sharing apps: No more arguments over who paid the electricity bill. Digital tools allow you to manage the communal pot with complete transparency.
• Prioritise clear contracts: Make sure you fully understand the clauses of your lease, especially regarding replacing a flatmate who is moving out.

Let's take the case of a large flat in the student district of Città Studi in Milan. Rented alone, it would be overpriced. Divided between three students, the cost works out to a rate significantly lower than the average of 729 euros for a single room, while offering a very pleasant shared living space (living room, large kitchen).

Avoiding scams: Roomlala, your trusted partner

The high rental tension that characterises 2026 unfortunately has a perverse effect: the increase in fraud and scams. On social media or unmoderated classifieds sites, fake hosts abound. They take advantage of the desperation of students to demand exorbitant security deposits or advance payments by untraceable bank transfer for properties that, in reality, do not exist or are already occupied.

At Roomlala, we are fully aware of this scourge. That is why we have built our platform on a fundamental principle: the absolute safety of our users. We position ourselves as a genuine trusted third party between the tenant and the host. All profiles registered on our site are meticulously verified to guarantee that you are dealing with real and serious people.

Our secure payment system is your best shield against scams. In practical terms, how does it work? When you book a room or a shared flat on Roomlala, you pay online on our encrypted platform. We hold and keep this sum completely safe. The host is only paid 48 hours after you have physically arrived at the property. If the accommodation does not match the listing or if you encounter any problem when receiving the keys, we block the transfer and refund you.

In short, the student housing crisis in Italy is a complex reality, but it is not inevitable. By turning to solidarity-based solutions like shared housing or homestay, and by relying on a secure platform like Roomlala, you can approach the start of your university year with peace of mind. Focus on your studies, we will take care of securing your roof.