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

Finding student accommodation in Italy has never been an easy path, but in 2026, the search has become a real struggle. The phenomenon of caro affitti (high rents) is hitting major university cities across the peninsula hard. Faced with soaring prices and shrinking supply, students living away from home (fuori sede) and their families are left feeling helpless. At Roomlala, we have analysed this unprecedented crisis to help you navigate it. Most importantly, we guide you toward the safest and most economical alternatives: shared housing and homestays.

Understanding the scale of the caro affitti in Italy in 2026

Rents reaching historic highs

In 2026, the Italian rental 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 driving the trend. Students who leave their home regions to pursue their studies are hitting a financial wall as soon as they start searching.

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. Take the example of Luca, a master's student at the University of Milan: his housing budget alone consumes 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 like Rome or Florence, many hosts prefer to rent to passing tourists rather than to long-term students. This dynamic drastically reduces the supply of long-term student accommodation and fosters 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 housing. This is where searching for alternatives becomes not just an option, but an absolute necessity to preserve equal opportunities for access to higher education in Italy.

Institutional supply is largely insufficient

Faced with this crisis in the private market, one might hope that the public sector would step in. Unfortunately, Italy suffers from a structural and historical lack of institutional student accommodation. Currently, public or subsidised university residences cover only about 4% of the total student population, with the stock capping at nearly 96,000 beds across the entire 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, the complexities of tender processes, and slow construction work are significantly hampering this plan in 2026. These government promises are not enough to relieve the immediate pressure on housing demand for the current university 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 in this context of institutional shortage that matching platforms for shared housing take on their full significance, offering a much-needed breath of fresh air.

Financial aid and legal levers for students living away from home

Fortunately, it is not all bleak for students living away from their home city. The Italian state offers tax relief mechanisms to help families manage 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 qualify, a strict geographical condition applies: the university must be located more than 100 kilometres from the student's habitual residence, or in a different province.

Let's look at a very concrete use case. Imagine Matteo, from Bari in Puglia, who moves to study at La Sapienza University in Rome. Since the distance between the two cities well exceeds 100 kilometres, Matteo's parents will be able to deduct 19% of his annual rent when filing their tax returns. They can thus recover up to about 500 euros, a not insignificant sum to help cover the cost of living in Rome.

Be careful, however: to benefit from this deduction, it is imperative 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 under-the-table rentals (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 homestays: the real anti-crisis solutions

Why choose a homestay?

Faced with the inflation of traditional rents, the 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 in the studio apartment market.

Beyond the purely financial advantage, it is a deeply human solution. For a young person living away from home arriving in an unknown city, living with a local makes settling in much easier. The host can share their tips, advise on neighbourhoods to avoid, and offer a safe and warm living environment, far from the loneliness that 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 apartment.

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

Student shared housing, a reinvented classic

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

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

For shared housing to be a success, a few golden rules apply. Here are our top tips:

• Establish a house-sharing agreement: Agree from the very first day on cleaning rules, quiet hours, and how to manage guests.
• Use expense-sharing apps: No more arguments about 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 the replacement of a housemate who is moving out.

Take the case of a large apartment in the student neighbourhood of Città Studi in Milan. Rented alone, it would be unaffordable. Divided between three students, the cost comes 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 intense rental market pressure that characterises 2026 has unfortunately had a perverse effect: the increase in fraud and scams. On social media or unmoderated classified ad sites, fake hosts abound. They exploit the desperation of students to demand exorbitant deposits or advance payments via untraceable transfers 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 security 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 ensure you are dealing with real and serious people.

Our secure payment system is your best shield against scams. Specifically, how does it work? When you book a room or a share on Roomlala, you pay online on our encrypted platform. We hold and keep this sum completely secure. The host is only paid 48 hours after your physical arrival on the premises. 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.

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