This article only applies for Long Stay. Click here to find more information about the difference between Long Stay and Short Stay housing.
Do I need to provide a proof of enrolment while applying?
Officially, you can only sign a rental agreement and live with us if you can provide us with valid proof of study. Your study should start within two months after the start of your rental agreement. However, there is one exception period where there may be slightly more space in between; when you accept SSH accommodation for the first time and the rental agreement starts between the 1st of June and the 1st of September, you may upload your provisional proof of enrolment. Please note that there shouldn't be any reservations on the document; for example passing your high school exams, officially confirming your choice of study via Osiris, etc. Educational institutions usually provide a provisional proof of enrolment after the exam results have been received. By the way: we check your proof of study each year, so in case of a provisional proof of enrolment, we do expect that you can show your official proof of study during this first check.
Can I apply for multiple living spaces at the same time?
You can respond to up to seven different living spaces at the same time. Once you’ve reached this number, you’ll be notified. By the way: once you’ve responded to accommodation, you can see your ranking straight away. Your ranking is based on the time that you’ve been registered with the SSH. Please keep in mind that this ranking can change at any given moment until the ad is closed.
Can I refuse a living space?
You can refuse as often as you want. But if you’ve had several offers after attending introduction nights and continuously refuse, you cannot claim our room guarantee. Once you’ve accepted the (draft of the) rental agreement for a living space via My SSH, you can no longer refuse the accommodation offered without having any obligations. In this situation, a one month notice will apply.
I am interested in several living spaces. Can I indicate a preference?
Are you applying for several rooms and/or studios at the same time? If so, you may have a preference for one of the accommodations, but are not sure yet whether you can actually rent it. On My SSH, you can accept several draft rental agreements simultaneously, but please be aware of the risks involved. If you are selected for one of these accommodations - either by the residents during an introduction night or because you are the candidate with the longest registration time after a viewing - and then decide not to proceed, we may charge you one month's rent. In addition, as a prospective new tenant you should not delay the 48-hour deadline for submitting the proof of study or income. If you do, you risk the accommodation being transferred to the next candidate after the deadline has passed.
Once you’ve accepted the (draft of the) rental agreement, you can no longer refuse the accommodation offered without having any obligations. |
I already work. What am I allowed to rent?
If you are not currently studying or are no longer a student, you may unfortunately not be eligible for all housing options. The government requires individuals to rent a home that aligns with their income, known as 'passend toewijzen' in Dutch. This means that if your annual income is up to €28,375 (2025), you reply to accommodations with a basic rent of up to €682.96 (2025). If your annual income falls between €28,375 and €49,669 (2025), you can apply for all accommodations we offer up to €900.07 (2025) without a campus contract. There is no minimum rental price in this case, providing you with more flexibility in choosing a suitable home. Do you earn more than €49,669 (2025) per year? Then you are unfortunately not eligible for our social rental offer. In our rental offer and on WoningNet you can find our 'vrije sector woningen', for which you can earn more.
Some examples:
- Jamilla (gratuated) earns €23.398 per year. She can respond to accommodation without a campus contract, with a basic rent up to €682.96 (2025).
- Sem (gratuated) earns €34.476 per year. He can respond to accommodation without a campus contract.
- Linn and Kris are living together and both have a job. Their total annual income is €30.718 which means they can respond to accommodation without a campus contract, with a basic rent up to €682.96 (2025).
- James and Robin are living together and both have a job. Their total annual income is €59.677. They can respond to all accommodation without a campus contract.
Can I get priority in my search?
We’re often asked whether we give priority based on travel distance, home situation or other personal circumstances. Unfortunately, we don’t. The reason is that we want to accommodate as many students as possible and believe that the fairest way to do so is by allocating living space based on the time someone has been registered with the SSH.
We do on the other hand, have a number of accommodations in Utrecht for specific target groups, like students with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder), deaf and sign language students, students with a physical disability, Goeie Buur, studying top athletes, and conservatoire and art academy students. To be eligible for this, most of the time you need advice from your student dean. For more information, have a look at this page. Keep in mind that despite cooperation from your student dean, it can sometimes take a long time before you qualify for housing.
I'm in rent arrears. Can I respond?
No, if you are behind in paying your monthly rent, you cannot apply for other SSH accommodation. You will be notified when this situation arises.
How does homeswapping work?
We have established an agreement with other student housing organizations that allows tenants to exchange self-contained homes, even if it involves moving between different organizations. As a tenant, it is your responsibility to find an exchange partner, after which both landlords will indicate whether we agree to the exchange. Note: agreement is not always the case! Once two exchange partners have expressed interest, the organizations involved will verify if their incomes are suitable for the desired accommodations they wish to move into. The monthly rent will be adjusted to match the maximum allowable rent of the exchange part. The exchange partner will receive a new rental agreement with the applicable conditions. If, for example, you now have an open-ended rental contract, there is a chance that your exchange partner will receive a youth contract - and thus may not be older than 27 when the rental agreement will start.