Italy boosts student housing support and neighbourhood-focused rentals

A recent analysis of the HousingAnywhere platform shows Italian students are increasingly filtering searches by neighbourhood, with the "quartiere" filter rising 35% in May. The trend, also observed in other European university cities, suggests a shift toward more nuanced location choices that consider transport links, safety, proximity to campuses and quality of life, potentially easing rent pressures.

At the same time, Italy's government has enacted the 2026 "Decreto Casa" to curb rising student rents. The decree allocates €8.5 million to a state‑funded rental assistance scheme for low‑income students, targets the creation of 30 000 new university‑grade beds by August 2026, and requires new student residences to charge rents at least 15% below average market rates. The plan involves public‑private partnerships, the Ministry of Universities and Research, and the Cassa Depositi e Prestiti, aligning with the country's PNRR objectives.

Together, the market shift toward neighbourhood selection and the legislative measures aim to improve affordability and suitability of student accommodation across Italy's major university cities.