Secure, affordable and fun – such is life on a corridor!

“The term ‘corridor accommodation’ is derived from a past when it was most common that the rooms were along a shared corridor,” says Mats Olsson, Property Manager at AF Bostäder. “Today, the layout may vary in a number of ways. A few rooms may be arranged around a living room, the accommodation may be in an older style with charming, exposed beams or have a more modern design with duplex solutions.”

“Each tenant always has their own private and separate room with a lockable outer door, usually with their own toilet and shower,” says Mats Olsson. “The students share the living room and kitchen, and each person has their own space in the fridge and freezer, and personal storage space for dry foods and kitchen utensils. Everyone on the corridor has a shared responsibility to keep the communal spaces clean and tidy, and the tasks are preferably done together.”

Life on a corridor is popular with the students and is rated highly in customer satisfaction surveys. The social value cannot be overstated. You are never alone, you find new friends easily from all parts of the University – in fact, all parts of the world. A corridor is ideal for someone who is new to student life, for someone who is far from home but also for someone who wants student finance to stretch a little further, as the rent is lower than for an apartment and is only paid for nine months of the year.

AF Bostäder’s corridor accommodation is in the best possible locations, divided between several well-known quarters with long traditions. They also constitute a vital part of the cityscape and the city’s student life.

“A lot of the social life at Lund University revolves around areas such as Delphi, Vildanden and Sparta,” says Mats Olsson. “This is where student evenings are organised, society events are planned, and ideas are hatched for ‘spex’ cabarets and the carnival. This is where there are competitions for singing, dancing and making gingerbread houses. This is where relationships, families and companies start. And this is where many student traditions first see the light of day, and where best friends and memories from student years are made.”

The housing areas are well-known in Lund and make an impression on the cityscape with their architecture, mature planted areas, inviting lawns and park-like environments with large, beautiful trees. But they also make an impression on everyday life around the properties. The many young and ambitious tenants form a welcome customer group for the city’s businesses.

“Overall, the corridor accommodation carries considerable value both for AF Bostäder’s property portfolio, but also culturally in Lund,” says Mats Olsson. “We have a long and proud tradition of managing corridor accommodation and take meticulous care of it. The housing is regularly renovated so that a pleasant and modern standard is always maintained. Our caretakers receive ongoing training in – and share experiences of – everything that distinguishes life on a corridor. We appoint representatives for each corridor to ensure good and frequent dialogue about satisfaction and practical matters. And we provide cleaning materials and good possibilities for waste sorting and keeping things neat and tidy.”

“It’s equally important that we spend a lot of time and passion on strengthening and maintaining the good social dynamics that characterise corridor accommodation. For example, we regularly arrange small and large events such as competitions, barbecues and courtyard get-togethers over coffee – preferably along with our caretakers. When the students get to know each other and also establish close and good relations with their caretakers, this contributes to security, satisfaction and a sense of community,” says Mats Olsson.