This article only applies for Long Stay. Click here to find more information about the difference between Long Stay and Short Stay housing.

'Hospiteren' VS viewing

In general, our accommodation is allocated based on registration time. Our rental offer indicates whether house hunters with the highest registration time can participate in an introduction night (in Dutch: 'hospiteeravond') or a viewing. For most rooms (and some self-contained units), an introduction night is organized. Fellow residents are granted the opportunity to choose their new housemate following the introduction night. On the other hand, most independent homes (and some rooms) will have a viewing. In this case, the new housemate is selected solely based on registration time, with no influence from current residents.

What's 'hospiteren'?

'Hospiteren' is the matchmaking process between house hunters and a student house. At a time organised by the dormitory, often an evening, everyone gets to know each other a little better. Introduction nights comes in many forms. Sometimes the dormitory lets you know what the evening will look like, but often it's a surprise until you get there. To give you an idea anyway, here are - in no particular order - some common forms: the drinks party (the dormitory invites all the hospices at the same time for a drink), the circle birthday party (the dormitory holds several rounds of introductions with a small group of candidates per round) and the speed date (the dormitory invites the candidates one by one so that they have their full attention on you). As a candidate, you also get the opportunity to see your potential new room. Afterwards, the dormitory chooses a new roommate together. If the chosen hospitant also likes living in the house, there is a match!

Why does the SSH works with 'hospiteren'?

For rooms, this is because these living spaces involve shared facilities such as bathrooms, kitchens, and toilets, which require close interaction among the residents. Moreover, every student house is different, with its own atmosphere with norms, values and habits. On an introduction night, a dormitory can see who fits best into the existing atmosphere. In turn, candidates can sense the atmosphere during the introduction night, and decide for themselves whether they would like to live in the house. As this process does not suit everyone, we also offer rooms and houses where viewings take place. 

When am I allowed to attend an introduction night? 

When an accommodation becomes vacant, we list it in our online rental offer. Subsequently, the responses are automatically sorted based on the time of registration. The 15 to 25 candidates with the longest registration time are invited to a viewing evening. The final number of invitations depends on the number of confirmations and cancellations. The dormitory will get a list of candidates and contact everyone to arrange a time. Ultimately, the residents choose a new housemate from among all the prospective candidates. 

I can attend the introduction night, but I don't hear anything from the dormitory.

The dormitory will contact you as soon as they received the candidate list. This might take two working days. Have a few days passed and have you still not received any news? You’re more than welcome to contact them yourself; you can find their contact details on My SSH.

Can I attend online?

Alternatively, it is also possible to attend the introduction process online, but this should be arranged directly with the house. In such cases, you can get to know each other through platforms like FaceTime, Skype, or WhatsApp video calls.

I forgot to let you know if I am coming to the hospiteeravond. Can I still come? 

Unfortunately.. if you have not confirmed on time via My SSH, then unfortunately we cannot reverse this! Our system is automated and has already created the candidate list. You cannot join the introduction night after all.

Should I cancel if I don't come?

Yes, please! You can do that via My SSH. Have you already been in touch with the dormitory? Then inform them as soon as possible as well. 

When will I know if I succeed?

If you have been selected by the dormitory, you will hear from them. In any case, keep a close eye on your phone! In the meantime, think about whether you would like to live in the dormitory. It is important to be critical, despite the room shortage. Would you rather not want the room after all and you do get chosen? Be honest and decline the room nicely. You can refuse as often as you like, but keep in mind that you will then no longer be eligible for the room guarantee (see below).

Do you have any suggestions?

• If you're going to an introduction night, it's important to be yourself. This is not only nice for the dormitory, but also for yourself. 
• Make sure you arrive on time and leave as soon as the residents requests it. Will you be late anyway? Often this is not a problem, but do let the contact person at the dormitory know. 
• Come alone. No matter how nice your father/mother/aunt is, the house is curious about you!
• Are you nervous? No problem at all! Remember that everyone on the hospiteeravond is - or once was - in the same boat.
• During the introduction night, ask how and when the residents will let you know whether you have made it. 

How often should I attend an introduction night? 

It can take some time to find a place that suits you well. Some househunters find a match in three times, others in 20 times. On average, house hunters attend an introduction night seven times. It is important not to blame a rejection on yourself. Often it is not down to you as a person, but to the wishes of the house.

What if I don't succeed?

We understand how frustrating this can be: and that’s exactly why we offer students under the age of 27 room guarantee. Have you never lived with us before? And have you attended at least twenty 'hospiteer' evenings in the past three months without success in finding accommodation? Then you can ask us to assign you a room; we call this direct placement. Based on availability, you will be offered a random room once, without having to do viewings Of course, we will check whether you have actually attended twenty 'hospiteer' evenings. We may ask you to prove your attendance through app or email conversations, so please save this messages from dormitories. Also, please note that we may invite you to our office for an introductory interview.

I have been left with an unpleasant feeling about an introduction night. 

Residents have a shared responsibility to make the evening as pleasant as possible for all candidates. In the exceptional case that something has happened before, during or after an introduction night that is not acceptable, we would like to hear about it. Please contact us at info@sshxl.nl.