Start of construction works in student hall of residence Mainzer Str. 2a / New tenants in student hall of residence Johannes-R.-Becher-Str. 7A after refurbishment
Start of construction works in student hall of residence Mainzer Str. 2a
From October 2021 to February 2023, Studentenwerk Leipzig will begin renovating the Mainzer Straße 2a student residence complex, which has 188 residential places in six buildings. The basic technical equipment in the dormitory complex, which was built in 1997, will be completely renewed, in particular the ventilation and air-conditioning systems as well as the supply and disposal lines for heating and sanitary facilities. In addition, renovation of the roof is necessary. The available living arrangements (shared apartments for 4 persons) will be retained. In the course of the works, kitchens and furniture in the residential units will be replaced as well. Works will be carried out in two construction phases and will take place while the hall of residence is unoccupied. Therefore, 114 residential places will not be available for rent to students from the winter semester 2021/2022 and 74 residential places from the summer semester 2022. The total cost of works amounts to about 6 million euros and will be subsidized with about 2.6 million euros from state funds to ensure social rents in student halls of residence. “We are very grateful to the Free State of Saxony for providing us with funding for this major multi-year refurbishment project. Without state funding, we would not be able to maintain social rental prices in the student halls of residence,” explains the Managing Director of Studentenwerk Leipzig, Dr. Andrea Diekhof.
Student hall of residence Johannes-R.-Becher-Straße 7A available for rent again after refurbishment
The refurbishment project of the student hall of residence Johannes-R.-Becher-Strasse 7A, which was completed in time for the start of the winter semester, was also subsidized by the Free State of Saxony with funds amounting to 345,000 euros. The student housing complex at Johannes-R.-Becher-Straße 3-11 is the second largest housing complex of Studentenwerk Leipzig with around 900 residential places. In house no. 7A with 92 places, repair of the building facilities (water, ventilation, sanitary) – without changing the living arrangements – was implemented from July to September 2021. In the course of works, the residential units were also equipped with new kitchens and furniture. The total cost of works amounted to about 850,000 euros. Refurbishment of the residential complex, which was carried out house by house, was started in 2016 already. After the annual refurbishment of one half-house each, the renovation of the residence hall is scheduled to be completed by 2023.
In 2021, Studentenwerk Leipzig will also receive state funding for further investment measures in student halls of residence – including, among other things, for the modernisation of elevator systems in the residence complex Straße des 18. Oktober 23-33 at the amount of 100,000 euros and for the procurement of a digital locking system at the student hall of residence Philipp-Rosenthal-Straße at the amount of 25,000 euros.
Increased demand for dorm rooms after pandemic slump
After a slight pandemic-related decline last year, the demand for places in student halls of residence of Studentenwerk Leipzig is back at a similarly high level as before the pandemic. At the moment, rooms are still being allocated for the winter semester 2021/22, with the resumption of attendance at universities having a positive effect on demand.
The allocation of rooms in our student halls of residence is currently going at full speed. Due to the large number of applications, we were not yet able to process all applications and offer a place to live to all students. The pandemic is causing delays in this regard: new rental contracts are currently not concluded directly at the office, but by mail, which leads to longer deadlines and processing times. “Since not all rental contracts have been concluded yet, it may be possible that rooms will be returned from October onwards, which we will then re-offer. We therefore ask students who urgently need a place to live to try and find alternative accommodation on the private housing market,” says Nora Müller, Head of the Student Housing Department.