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Containers proposed as student housing solution

Officials in Stockholm have come up with a novel solution to address the student housing shortage afflicting university towns across the country: converting cargo containers into student residences.

Published: 12 November 2010 11:57 CET

Containers proposed as student housing solution

Container City in London may have been an inspiration

The city of Stockholm intends to undertake two projects to create about 220 student apartments by stacking nine storeys of containers togeher, as well as building more floors on top of existing student residences at Gärdet in eastern Stockholm, newspaper Dagens Nyheter (DN) reported on Friday.

The proposal calls for building the first 50 homes near the Royal Institute of Technology’s (Kungliga Tekniska Högskolan, KTH) on Drottning Kristinas väg.

If all goes to according to plan, students could move into the dwellings as early as next autumn, DN reported.

Each container occupies 25 square metres and includes a bathroom and kitchenette. The building would also include a greenhouse on the roof.

At Gärdet’s Studentbacken, one idea is to build another two to three floors on the three eight-storey buildings that the Stockholm Student Housing Foundation (Stiftelsen Stockholms studentbostäder, SSSB) currently runs.

The proposed 220 new student apartments barely scratch the surface in terms of addressing the acute housing shortage for students in Stockholm. The average time students spend on SSSB’s wait list is 15 months.

“The situation has deteriorated drastically and the queuing time has gone through the roof. A few years ago, it was three months,” SSSB communications director Anders Cronqvist told DN.

Attempts by The Local to reach SSSB were unsuccessful.

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The words you need to know before renting a flat in Germany

Picture: DPA

Whether you speak German or not, getting your head around the complex words used in renting in Germany.

(Der) Mieter

Meaning tenant or renter, Mieter comes from the German miete which means to rent.

Vermieter means landlord – although the latter is frequently used in super-hip Berlin and Hamburg.

SEE ALSO: What you need to know about renting in Germany

(Der) Mietvertrag

The German word for lease, Mietvertrag – literally rent contract – is the document between you and your landlord which allows you to live in the flat.

As we discussed in our report on the Anmeldung (address registration) process, you’ll need to show this at the Bürgeramt to receive your Meldebescheinigung (certificate of registered address).

(Der) Altbau and Neubau

When moving into an apartment block, you’ll frequently be told whether your potential flat-to-be is an Altbau (old building) or a Neubau (new building).

This can however be confusing, as the highly sought after Altbau can frequently look much newer and nicer than the Neubau, the latter of which can often be found at the outskirts of larger German cities.

Buildings from before the Second World War are known as Altbau, whereas those made afterwards are known as Neubau.

An Altbau apartment building in Hamburg. Picture: DPA

(Die) Kaution

Meaning either bond or deposit, Kaution is the money paid as a security deposit when you move into a flat to provide the landlord with a degree of protection should you fail to pay the rent or if the flat is damaged.

Foreigners are frequently targeted with Kaution scams, so be sure to discuss the nature of your Kaution and how it will be returned when moving into a flat.

SEE ALSO: How Berlin’s housing crisis leaves women vulnerable to sexual predators

(Das) Casting

Right out of the same category as ‘Handy’, ‘Public-Viewing’ and ‘Beamer’, Casting is an English word which has taken on a different and somewhat odd use in German.

While ‘casting’ in English means the process of auditioning for a part in a movie or play, ‘Casting’ in German is the process of interviewing a new flatmate.

Although it will not always be the case, a Casting can be structured much like a job interview – with each of the existing housemates asking a variety of questions to determine if you’re truly worthy.

(Die) Mietschuldenfreiheitsbescheinigung

Literally translating as rent-debt-freedom-certificate, the Mietschuldenfreiheitsbescheinigung is a document which confirms you are not in rental debt for any of your previous properties.

While the word is an absolute mouthful – try saying ‘meat-shool-den-fry-height-b-shine-ee-goong’ out loud – this document is an absolute must when renting a flat.

Remember that the German word for debt (Schuld) also means guilt – so anyone hoping to rent a flat will need to prove that they are debt free.

(Die) Verdienstbescheinigung

Another Bescheinigung, the Verdienstbescheinigung is a document from your employer which shows your earnings.

Given the highly competitive property market in many German cities, you’ll want to have this document on hand for when you first see – and decide to apply for – the property.

(Die) Nebenkosten, (Die) Warmmiete and (Die) Kaltmiete

Nebenkosten, which are otherwise known as Betriebskosten, means all the extra costs associated with the apartment other than the rent. These include water, gas, internet, heating, electricity and insurance costs.

When renting a flat, the advertised price will either be Kaltmiete (cold rent) or Warmmiete (warm rent). A Kaltmiete price will only be the price for the rent itself, while Warmmiete will be the price including the Nebenkosten.

Flats will often be advertised as “€600 Warmmiete/WM/Warm” or “€550 Kaltmiete/Kalt/KM”.

‘KM’ stands for ‘Kaltmiete’. Picture: DPA

(Die) Wohngemeinschaft

More commonly known as a ‘W-G’ (pronounced ‘vey-gay’), Wohngemeinschaft is the German name for a share house. The word literally translates to ‘residential community’.

WGs are common in Germany for students and adults alike, given that the country’s unique and sometimes complicated Altbau architecture can create share houses with a significant amount of privacy and independence.

(Der) Mitbewohner

If you live in a WG, you’re likely to have one or more Mitbewohner. Translating literally as ‘with-occupant’, Mitbewohner means housemate or flatmate.

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