ESH and LUMSA: joining forces for student housing in Rome
Finding reliable accommodation in Rome before the semester starts is often the most stressful part of any international university experience. For students at LUMSA (Libera Università Maria Santissima Assunta), this challenge is all too familiar: the main campus is located on Via della Traspontina, right in the heart of the Prati neighbourhood — one of the most sought-after and compact areas in the city. Limited supply, high demand, and not always transparent pricing.
Why LUMSA and why Rome
LUMSA is one of Italy's most recognised private universities, with over 7,200 students and a well-established international outlook. Every year it offers hundreds of Erasmus+ mobility grants across Europe and welcomes dozens of incoming students from across the continent. The main Rome campus, in the Prati area, is just steps from the Vatican and Castel Sant'Angelo — an elegant, well-connected neighbourhood that international students love, though rental prices here tend to run higher than in other parts of the city.
For an international student arriving for the first time, navigating the Rome rental market without a local network is genuinely difficult. The risk of running into fake listings, inflated prices, or unclear contracts is very real. ESH was built precisely to eliminate these problems.
Every listing published on ESH for Rome is reviewed by the team before going live. Most importantly: every host is personally verified, with identity confirmed through a dedicated verification process. This meaningfully reduces the risk of fraud and misrepresentation — a far-from-rare issue in the Rome rental market.
How the booking process works
The flow is straightforward and fully transparent:
- 1Search available accommodation in Rome, filtering by area, price, availability and flatmate preferences (nationality, gender)
- 2Send a request to multiple hosts at the same time — no upfront payment required
- 3Receive the host's approval: once approved, you have 24 hours to complete payment, or the request expires automatically
- 4Your funds stay protected via Stripe until check-in: the first month's rent is only transferred to the host 24 hours after your arrival
- 5Check-in with support available throughout
If at check-in the accommodation presents a verified substantial discrepancy from what was described in the listing, you receive a full refund — including the ESH Commission. No surprises, no hidden costs.
Rome rental prices: what to expect
The Prati neighbourhood, right next to the LUMSA campus, is among the most in-demand areas in Rome. The table below gives an indicative price range for single rooms or beds in shared apartments, based on current market trends across the city:
| Area | Average monthly price (single room) |
|---|---|
| Prati / Vatican | €700 – €900 |
| Trastevere | €600 – €800 |
| Historic Centre | €700 – €950 |
| Parioli / Flaminio | €600 – €800 |
| Outer areas (metro-connected) | €450 – €650 |
Prices vary depending on size, furnishings, bills included, and contract length. On ESH, all costs are displayed transparently before you submit any request.
Frequently asked questions
Is the ESH–LUMSA partnership free for students? Yes. Access to the ESH platform is free of charge.
Can I search for accommodation near LUMSA even if I'm not an Erasmus student? Absolutely. ESH welcomes students on international mobility programmes, master's students, interns, and visiting researchers. You don't need to be enrolled in the Erasmus+ programme to use the platform.
How far in advance should I start looking for housing in Rome? The Rome rental market moves fast, especially in neighbourhoods close to universities. We recommend starting your search at least 2–3 months before the semester begins to have the widest choice and the best chance of negotiating good terms.
How does the security deposit work? The deposit is paid together with the first month's rent at the time of booking. It is held securely via Stripe and released according to the listing's Cancellation Policy, which is always visible before you confirm any request.
If you're a LUMSA student: start your next Rome semester with the right home sorted. Browse available listings on ESH and find the best option close to campus.
