Unite Group plc – Trading Statement
Unite Students, the UK’s leading owner, manager and developer of student accommodation, today provides a trading update ahead of the end of the first half of the financial year ending on 30 June 2020.
Highlights
- 97% of Universities plan to provide in-person teaching in the Autumn term of 2020/21*
- Reservations at 80% for the 2020/21 academic year (2019/20: 88%), of which half underpinned by contracted nomination agreements
- 94% of rent has been collected under nomination or lease agreements for the summer term of 2019/20, reflecting the strength of Unite’s relationships with Universities and the robustness of its nomination agreements
- First student accommodation provider to have our Covid Secure status accredited by the British Safety Council
- Guidance for EPRA EPS of 22-25 pence for FY2020, reflecting the impact of rent forgone for the summer term of 2019/20 and 90% target occupancy for 2020/21
- Anticipate reinstating dividend payments following the start of the 2020/21 academic year in line with our expectations …