Action over repeated student housing break-ins

Break-ins and squatting are commonplace at student housing in Reykjavík. The managing director of Félagsstofnun stúdenta says the organisation takes action when a repeated pattern emerges. Residents of Háskóli Íslands (University of Iceland) student housing have had to endure windows being broken and buildings being broken into, strangers making themselves at home in communal areas and residents’ possessions being stolen. Félagsstofnun stúdenta owns and operates more than 1,600 rental flats in Reykjavík, most of which are in buildings with communal areas. Heiður Anna Helgadóttir, managing director of FS, says the buildings often house many people and that large numbers pass through their entrances. Residents therefore need to be careful as they come and go. When incidents like this occur, we ask residents to move around the building in a way that prevents unauthorised people from entering. For example, they should make sure doors close and lock behind them, not leave them unlocked, not allow strangers into the building and take other similar precautions. When a pattern emerges, such as when two men repeatedly broke into the Gamli garður student residence and made themselves at home there in the autumn, FS takes action. For example, by installing security cameras, security systems or burglar alarms, and in some cases we have had to provide temporary security guards at buildings. She says residents should always contact the police if they become aware of a break-in or unauthorised people staying on the premises. But we also want them to inform us so that we can keep statistics and determine what measures are needed in each case.