Development responds to the urgent need for additional student housing in the capital.

Quares Student Housing is buying 129 student homes in the Brouck’R mixed development project of developers Immobel and BPI Real Estate. With this city-centre project next to the Brouckèreplein, the firms are responding to the strong demand for additional student housing in Brussels. “Thanks to the nearby campuses, cultural facilities, outstanding public transport links, not to mention a wide selection of bars and restaurants, the area offers everything a student needs,” explains Herman Du Bois, CEO of Quares Student Housing. Quares, the property service provider that also manages Quares Student Housing’s investment fund, will manage and rent out the student flats. Instead of outsourcing these activities to third parties, everything will be in the hands of a single company, with the advantage that there is always a single point of contact. This guarantees effective long-term maintenance and management, whilst also allowing for the creation of shared facilities that further enhance residents’ living experience.

Largest student city with greatest student housing shortage in Belgium

With 110,000 students, the Brussels Capital Region is Belgium’s largest student city. But it also has the most acute student housing shortage. In recent years, higher education colleges and universities in Brussels have enjoyed strong growth, some years even expanding at a rate of 10%. The enormous student housing shortage therefore comes as no surprise. For many students, finding high-quality student ‘digs’ remains a problem. Today, more than half of students find themselves forced to search for a student room on the private rental market, which puts pressure on the regular rental market. Brouck’R responds to the need for tailor-made, high-quality student housing with facilities – the latter being especially important to international students, who cannot return home every weekend.

Immobel, BPI Real Estate and Quares Student Housing are thus creating a future-proof building in terms of climate, fire safety, bathroom facilities, security and shared facilities. Construction is due to begin by the end of 2021.