Caravans suggested as solution to housing crisis

In a high-pressure housing market with long queues for student bedsits, different measures are being taken – students sleeping in cafeterias, bomb shelters – and now caravans? This is what Norwegian Caravan Club (NCC) envisions. In a letter addressed to the National Union of Students in Norway (NSU) and the Ministry of Education and Research (KD), the club states that they wish to have an active partnership with student organizations and public authorities, in order to assist and offer advice to students who wish to use a caravan or mobile home during their studies.

«Today’s caravans and mobile homes have facilities that are just as good as those of most student bedsits, if not better» they write.

Head of Information at NCC, Christian I. Wangberg, says that the association has experienced many situations in which students who lack other alternatives turn to a life on four wheels.

– Recently there was amongst others a student from Rælingen who was going to study law in Bergen and decided to live in a mobile home, as flats were too expensive there. And it is not just students from the big cities who experience this – I receive paper cuttings from all over Norway every day, he says.

– Satisfactory quality

Wangberg points out that NCC do not intend to establish places for students themselves, but that they can be a cooperative partner.

– But if this is going to be a possibility, there will have to be good conditions, he says. Good conditions in this instance means access to shower facilities, electricity, and a suitable place to empty waste.

– Is this really realistic?

– Yes, if it happens in an organized manner. Today’s caravans are of satisfactory quality.

– How much will it cost to rent a mobile home?

– Renting will probably not be the most realistic option – that would in all likelihood be very expensive. But there are 120 000 caravans in Norway today, and many of these are only used in the summertime. I think that many students could borrow a caravan from someone they know. One solution is to buy one second hand. A caravan of a decent standard costs 50 000 kroner, and after your studies you can get 30 000 for it, maybe more if you sell it to another student.

Student discounts at camping sites.

Wangberg says that several students have opted for this possibility in Oslo as well. Bogstad Camping does not currently have any students living with them, but says that upon showing valid student ID, you can rent a camping plot for 3600 kroner a month. In comparison, a furnished bedsit with the Foundation for Student Life in Oslo (SiO) costs between 2349 and 3186 kroner per month.

Political Advisor at the Ministry of Education and Research, Kyrre Lekve, says that the ministry has taken notice of the suggestion from NCC, and that the club will receive a reply.

– But we still wish to emphasize that it is primarily the Government’s job to organize the building of more student housing. The letter from Norwegian Caravan Club is an attempt to find more short term solutions. This is beyond the ministry’s job description. We take note of this contribution and believe that local authorities and student welfare organizations can take this into consideration during their continuing task of finding housing for the students.

NSU displays friendly skepticism

Head of Student Housing Tom Olstad says that SiO does not have an overview of the number of students that are currently using this somewhat untraditional solution.

– We have not done any organization in terms of mobile homes or caravans. These are at best temporary solutions, and I do not see this becoming a reality.

This skepticism is shared by Ingvild Reymert of the National Union of Students in Norway (NSU).

– It’s nice that people care about students and want to help. But I do not see caravans as an alternative. We have to commit to building more student housing in order to secure places to live for students. But if someone has access to a cheap student bedsit and still chooses to live in a mobile home, then we will not stand in their way.