Housing in Groningen

 Finding a house for rent in Groningen is not so easy task as in India.  However, if you follow some guidelines, you will be successful in finding one quickly. A few points to know about housing sector in The Netherlands:

Housing is not an open market (Often this is the case, though there are few exceptions, in which you find an advertisement directly from the house owner) in Holland.One needs to register with a housing agent for renting a house.Mere registration will not guarantee you a house for rent for sure.You will get mails from the housing agents about the vacant houses and they will be offered based on the seniority of registered members with them.You also need to pay the agent some fee if he can find a house for you. This fee will be typically a month's rent. This fee changes from agent to agent. If you are coming for the first time to Groningen to join your course, then housing office will provide you a room in a student house for one year. You need to find a house/room after one year yourself. You can not ask for extension to stay in the student room provided by housing office after one year. 

There are three kinds of houses which are preferred by Indians:

Type 1:- 

Student Houses: Here you will have a single room and share kitchen, toilet, shower with fellow students. The premises will be a bit messy as many people share the facilities. Of course, they are the cheapest. The rents for these rooms are generally inclusive of everything. You just need to pay the rent and nothing else. Typical Rent: 200-300 Euro per month. Suitable for unmarried Students for short stay (less than 2 years).

Type 2:-

Shared Student Rooms: They are also like above, but you share the facilities with 3 to 4 students. The are less messy compared to the first ones and are naturally a bit more expensive, but surely affordable by students. The rents for these rooms are also generally inclusive of everything. You just need to pay the rent and nothing else. Typical Rent: 250-350 Euro per month. Suitable for unmarried Students for short stay. (Some PhD students also live in these places).

Type 3:-

Individual apartments/houses: You have your own house/apartment. You don't share anything except the lift and cycle garage. So, you are the boss of your house and hence you have to do everything yourself.  In most cases, the rent for these houses are excluding energy, water and garbage costs. Typical Rent: 400-550 Euro (Excluding Energy, Water, Garbage Costs). Most of the PhD Students prefer these houses as they are quiet and as clean as you keep them. Generally 2 to 3 unmarried PhD students share a house like this. Married PhD/Post docs will have to look for these kind of houses. So, in total the cost will be around 600 to 650 Euro per month including everything.
Finding accommodation of Type1 and Type2 is relatively easy compared to Type3. You can find the addresses of few of the housing agents in Groningen below:

  1. Meeus , (Type 3)
      Europaweg 27,
      9723 AS,
       Groningen, Tel. 0505888555

  2. Nijstee , (Type 3)

      Naberpassage-3
      Groningen
      Tel: 050-8533533

  3. Makelaardij Zeeven (Type 2 and 3)
      Parklaan 1
      Postbus 138
      9700 AC, Groningen
      Tel. 050-3183277

  4. In-Groningen (Type 1 and 2)
      Gedempte Zuiderdiep 22
      9711 HG, Groningen
      Tel. 050592 55 00
    

You can find more information from your fellow Indians and hopefully you always get help from the community.