A graduate student spent a night sheltering in Victoria University's library with her partner, amid reports of students couch-surfing, sleeping on floors and living in tents while they struggle to find homes.

Georgia's situation became so dire she considered quitting her job and moving out of the city – even writing her resignation letter on the morning when a flat offer finally came.

The reports have prompted the Victoria University of Wellington Students' Association (VUWSA) to launch a register for incoming students to gauge the size of the problem.

With almost two weeks since Victoria students returned to classes, VUWSA president Rory Lenihan-Ikin said the Emergency Accommodation Register aimed to help homeless students find temporary rooms as soon as possible.

"When there's students (reportedly) living in tents you don't need any more indication that there's a rental crisis in the city," Lenihan-Ikin said.

Georgia graduated last year, and despite working full time she and her partner found themselves homeless for over a month, during which the pair were forced to spend one sleepless night sheltering in the Victoria University library.

The pair had expected to renew their lease but, 10 days before it ended, were told it would not be renewed.

A friend's couch provided somewhere to sleep for most of the month.

They tried a hostel, but with the only remaining rooms more than $100 per night, they couldn't afford it.

"Living out of a bag and not having your own space really takes a toll on you," Georgia said.

The pairs' age made them unattractive to landlords, Georgia said, and she believes it was only by dressing up that they finally secured a flat.

VUWSA's Lenihan-Ikin said although there was always a squeeze at the start of the academic year, the rental shortage was worse than ever, driven by more students, higher rents, rooms knocked out by the Kaikoura earthquake and the ongoing housing crisis.

Earlier this month 40 potential tenants queued up for a flat viewing in inner-city Mt Cook, with the property manager likening the scene to "a street party".

The queue followed a recent week that Wellington is 3590 dwellings short of what it needs, with the head of the city's housing taskforce saying multiple tenants were sharing rooms as a result. The Emergency Accommodation Register was designed to match the most desperate flat-hunters with people who may be able to spare a room temporarily until they find permanent lodgings.

Lenihan-Ikin said the students coming to advocacy services represented just the "tip of the iceberg".

Although "wheels were turning", he said Victoria University and Wellington City Council needed to work together with the association and do more to address the problem.

Director of student and campus living at Victoria, Rainsforth Dix, urged any students having problems finding accommodation to go to Victoria's student accommodation service for help.

"Through its social media channels, the university has encouraged people with space available in their flats or houses to consider offering short term accommodation to a student," she said.

"University staff are keeping in close contact with VUWSA on this issue."

Massey University spokesman James Gardiner said there could be no doubt this year had been the most difficult for students seeking accommodation.

- Stuff