The recent increase in rental housing prices in Edirne draws the reaction of university students looking for a house. With the start of face-to-face education after the break due to Covid-19, more than 42,000 students started the course at Trakya University. Most of the students, who are in a hurry to find a place to stay, continue their search for rental houses.
Edirne Real Estate Consultants Association President Serhat Çeker said that there was an exorbitant increase in rental house prices in the city. Çeker stated that the demand for rental flats increased as thousands of students came back to the city.
"For a long time the apartments were empty. Now that the demand has increased, the flat owners kept the prices quite high," he said.
"1+1 FLAT RENTS START FROM 1,250 LIRA"
Serhat Çeker, President of Edirne Real Estate Agents Association, "There are already a limited number of rental apartments in Edirne. The lowest of 1+1 flats starts from 1,250 liras and goes up to 1,500 liras. 2+1 flats start from 1,750 liras and go up to 2 thousand 500 liras. These rent amounts may be normal in big cities, but they are high for Edirne. The rent of a 1+1 flat should not exceed 1,000 liras. Even if the rent is 1,000 liras, it goes up to 1,750 liras when it comes to electricity, fuel, water and dues. Families are trying to educate their children in difficult situations," he added.
“WE ARE VERY BORED, GET AN EMERGENCY REMEDY”
Trakya University Radio and Television Programming 2nd year student Yasemin Çengel said that the students had difficulty in finding a house. Expressing that exorbitant prices are requested for rental apartments, Çengel said, "Students are overwhelmed by this situation. There is no house, the existing houses are also very expensive. 1+1 houses start from 1,500 liras, we complain a lot about this situation. Whatever has to be done must be done, or we will be homeless. Due to the epidemic, the homes of the hosts remained empty for 1.5 years. I understand them too, but it shouldn't increase that much."
“HIGH RENTALS MAKE US FINANCIALLY CHALLENGING”
Yaman Çevik, a 1st year student in Mechanical Engineering, explained that the rents of the houses have increased suddenly in the last 2 months.
"The landlords are trying to make up for 1.5 years. But I don't think we're the ones who should feel sorry for them. High rents are pushing us hard financially," he said.