Talent Square already popular
A lot of international students are interested in renting a room in Talent Square. About seventy percent of the rooms is already reserved and paid for. The university expects all rooms to be taken in the coming academic year.
The rental of the rooms is in the hands of TBV Wonen. However, vacancy also has consequences for Tilburg University. The university has promised to take 250 rooms, intended for degree seeking international students. If those rooms stay empty, TiU bears the costs.
TBV Wonen asks 460 Euros per month for a room. According to Mylène Zwaans, Managing Director of the university, that is not the price the university pays to the housing corporation in case of vacancy. She does not name any amounts, but it would be a percentage of the rent.
Zwaans explains why TiU entered the housing market through their cooperation with TBV Wonen. “The idea started around 2010. In the international education market future students appreciate it when there is housing available. It increases the appeal to foreign students. We chose the rooms that share a kitchen and a living space so that the international students can get to know other people easily. The minimal and maximum rental period is one year. We assume that the students know their way around Tilburg after that time and can find another place to live.”
International students are not obliged to rent a room in Talent Square. A lot of students search for a room via the internet. Currently a lot of new student housing is in progress in Tilburg.
