Category: Market News

Unite Students has reported strong growth and nearly-full student accommodation blocks amid record demand from students and still-constrained supply.

Unite told markets this morning that like-for-like rental growth was 8.2 per cent and occupancy was 97.5 per cent for the 2024/25 academic year.

The firm retained its guidance and said it expected rental growth to be 4-5 per cent for the 2025/2026 academic year.

“The outlook for the business is positive with strong student demand at a time of limited new supply and ongoing investment into our portfolio and platform,” Joe Lister, Unite Students Chief Executive Officer, said …

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Student-led accommodation specialist Nido Living has appointed Ryan Lee as CFO, as the company gears up for a major expansion drive.

Ryan’s appointment is central to this plan, bringing his extensive experience in real estate and financial leadership to Nido’s executive team.

Joining Nido in September, Ryan will work closely with CEO Carlo Matta and COO Darren Gardner, and is based at Nido’s headquarters in Amsterdam, Netherlands …

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IP Investment Management (IPIM) – in partnership with Heed Capital and Amro Partners – has achieved the highest ESG certifications for Amro Porto, its debut PBSA project in Porto, Portugal.

Amro Porto is the country’s first new building ever to achieve BREEAM ‘Outstanding’, in addition to Fitwel 3* and WiredScore Platinum ratings – the highest ranking for each respective certification.

Located in the Paranhos area of Porto within the city’s main university hub, the 151-bedroom PBSA scheme includes a mix of studios, twodios and some doubles with modern amenities including study rooms, terraces, gym, cinema, MasterChef room and outdoor green spaces. The project was completed in October 2023 and opened to students in January 2024 …

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He is tasked with accelerating Kooky’s growth strategy of offering boutique apartments in the London commuter belt …

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Empiric Student Property, the owner and operator of premium, purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) across the UK, has reported its interim results for the six months ended 30 June 2024.

Revenue increased 2.7% to £42.4m (30 June 2023 £41.3m), up 10.5% on a like-for-like basis.

The company is on track for their best-ever re-booker campaign, with continued strong demand for the academic year 2024/25. Revenue occupancy for the academic year 2024/25 is currently at 92%, with a continued expectation of exceeding 97%.

First half dividends is paid and payable of 1.75p, 7.7% ahead of H1 2023 and in line with financial targets …

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Provider of student accommodation – Unite Students – has chosen Lavanda as its preferred property management system (PMS).

Unite Students will use Lavanda’s PMS to optimise a range of financial, administrative and logistical workstreams throughout 151 properties located in 23 leading university towns and cities.

The platform’s API-first approach will allow Unite Students to deliver a customisable and efficient front-end experience via the provider’s own app, enabling students to easily access information, communicate with management and participate in community activities …

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Leading central London student accommodation provider urbanest has partnered with JLL’s Sustainability Consulting team to establish a sector-leading sustainability strategy. This is set to bolster their existing ESG commitments.

urbanest offers 4,000 student beds across their central London portfolio of developments (including King’s Cross, Waterloo and in the City). They partner with London’s top universities – King’s College, UCL and LSE among them – to deliver high quality rooms.

The collaboration is a two-phase project that will establish robust ESG reporting requirements and devise a comprehensive sustainability roadmap. This is in addition to urbanest’s pre-existing environmental and social commitments and position as one of London’s leading Passivhaus developers.

By evaluating their business and incorporating the insights gained from JLL, urbanest will achieve their long-term sustainability goals. It will also enhance their standing amongst stakeholders and position them as a leader in sustainable development within the PBSA sector …

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In global property consultancy Knight Frank’s latest UK Student Housing Market Update for H1 2024, the company reveals that investment into the UK PBSA sector reached £2.45bn. This is much higher than the £1.1bn invested in H1 2023.

Q2 2024 marked the strongest quarter since 2022, with £1.7bn invested in the sector. This figure is inflated due to Mapletree’s acquisition of the Cuscaden Peak Portfolio, which includes 31 PBSA schemes across the UK and Germany. The UK assets are valued at approximately £960m.

Following a trend from previous years, regional assets continue to lead investment. Since 2019, on average, £2.1 bn has been invested annually in standalone regional assets.

This compares to an average annual spend of £570m on single assets in London over the same period. According to Knight Frank, the lower turnover in London reflects a lack of supply of PBSA opportunities, opposed to faltering demand …

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Purdown View, the new PBSA at UWE Bristol has been completed and is the largest low-carbon development in the UK. The student village at the Frenchay campus includes 900 bedrooms. It will be fully occupied for the next academic year starting in September.

​With sustainability at its heart, the groundbreaking development has received Passivhaus certification for meeting the highest possible eco credentials. Passivhaus buildings provide excellent occupant comfort while using little energy for heating and cooling. Purdown View will reduce energy by 81% and carbon by 79% per room compared with the housing it replaced.

​Students living at Purdown View will benefit from a comfortable temperature year-round and improved internal air quality. Thanks to sustainability features including triple glazed windows, high levels of insulation and a mechanical ventilation system. As a fossil fuel-free development, any heating required will be generated by air-source heat pumps and electricity from solar panels.

​Residents also have vibrant green spaces and a new public art sculpture garden on their doorstep, boosting biodiversity on campus. It is hoped it will help support student mental health and wellbeing.

“We are extremely proud to have completed the largest Passivhaus-accredited student housing project in the UK. It demonstrates our commitment to address the challenges of climate change, move towards our 2030 carbon targets and our commitment to student wellbeing and experience.

“We’re looking forward to seeing these fantastic new energy efficient residences being fully occupied by our students later in the year, helping address the shortage of student accommodation in the city and fulfilling our commitment to make more high quality, purpose-built accommodation available on campus for our first-year students.

​“Purdown View has been partially occupied since January and we have received very positive feedback from students, who have told us they are proud and excited to be part of an innovative development designed to be as energy efficient as possible and tackle climate change issues.”

Professor Sir Steve West, Vice-Chancellor, UWE Bristol …

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