What is a Double Occupancy in Student Housing?

In student housing, Double Occupancy refers to a unit type where two residents share the same bedroom.

Here’s how it typically works:

• Shared Sleeping Space: Unlike suite-style or apartment-style housing where each student may get a private bedroom, in double occupancy both roommates sleep in the same room.
• Shared Rent: Because two people are sharing the same bedroom, the cost per resident is usually lower than in single-occupancy rooms.
• Layout: A double occupancy room usually has two beds (or sometimes a bunk bed), two desks, two dressers/closets, and other duplicated furniture.
• Context in Student Housing:
  • In traditional residence halls, double occupancy is the most common setup.
  • In modern purpose-built student housing (PBSA), many units are 2x2, 3x3, or 4x4 apartments where each bedroom is private; however, some properties still offer double occupancy as a more affordable option.
  • Double occupancy can also appear in “bed-by-the-bed leasing” where each student signs their own lease but shares the bedroom with a roommate assigned by the property.

👉 In short: A Double Occupancy unit means two students live in the same bedroom and split the rent, making it one of the more affordable student housing options compared to single occupancy.