The rental prices for a room at the campus of Tirana (in Albanian “qyteti i studentit”, translating literally “student city”) have registered an increase of 5,000 Albanian Lek (ALL) compared to last year, amounting to 35,000 ALL, reports the local press (Sot, 11.09.2009).
The prices seem to increase each year by 5,000 ALL, asserts Sot, which reminds that last year the rent price was 30,000 ALL and suggests that it had been 25,000 ALL the year before that.
Not only are the prices higher, but since very few buildings have been renovated, the living conditions are, at best, uncomfortable, if not worse in some of the older buildings due to intensive usage. Reports of many buildings sharing only a pair of toilets per floor, or only one shower facility space per floor persist. Tap-water scarcity and frequent shortages are also reported.
These conditions are uncomfortable as well as unhygienic and cases of viral infection are reported by the press. The number of students sharing a room is generally 3 or 4. The majority of rooms contain 4 roommates asserts Sot. That is expected to change according to the director of the campus quoted by the newspaper, and 3 roommates per room are expected to be the norm in the academic year 2009-2010.
Bujar Brovina, director of the campus, expects 4000 to 5000 students for the new academic year, out of which are nearly 1800 new students. The new academic year of 2009-2010 will begin in October, and Brovina asserts that the number of students continuing university studies is higher than the capacities of the campus.
Is it worth going to the campus?
Not only does the campus not offer capacities for sheltering every one, but they seem overpriced compared to the rent market of the peripheral parts of the capital. Many apartments are for rent at comparable prices, in different quarters of the capital city, especially in the peripheral zones.
While many housing possibilities in town exist at comparable or even lower prices, it may be that they are not readily rented out to students. Meeting the renting criteria may be difficult for the students. Generally the position in life of the students, who generally come from poorer parts of the country and do not necessarily have a personal income, does not help them very much. The fact that some of them may create “mobs” or “crowds” to share spending, may inhibit a number of owners from renting to them.
On the other hand, the director of the campus suggests that the open market may not always offer better comfort opportunities. Shortages of water may indeed be customary in other parts of the city. Bujar Brovina, quoted by Sot, justifies price increases by the continuing development of facilities and enlargement of housing and living spaces. He believes 35,000 ALL is not a high rental price because the cost per student is only about 100 ALL per night. Brovina underlines that many services are offered on the campus 24 hours a day and that students consume much electric power. The cost of services and electric power has been rising, but the campus is still offering housing at a lower cost, estimates Brovina. He also noted that by October all the rooms will have the ability to connect to the internet. The cost for internet will be minimal, declares the director of the campus.
