Appeal of the PBSA sector holds up
Property Week and Student Roost brought together a panel of industry experts to discuss the challenges facing the purpose-built student accommodation sector and the opportunities that have opened up this year …
News Articles
Why real estate investors are turning to multifamily
Across the globe, residential properties are increasingly on the radar of investors.
Real estate investors are increasingly hunting for multifamily real estate, a sign of the broader pivot toward defensive strategies amid ongoing economic uncertainty.
Investment in all real estate sectors fell 44 percent in the third quarter of the year, compared to the same period in 2019, according to JLL. However, multifamily has fared better than most other sectors, with investment falling, but by 27 percent …
Student survey: 93% intend to stay at university
93% of students intend to stay on at university, despite Covid-19 challenges
New research reveals that although 2020 has seen significant challenges, students in the UK have adjusted well and intend to continue their university courses in January 2021
· Four in five students (81%) agree that although it is not how they expected their first year at university to be, they value their time there
· Almost three quarters of students say they’ve transitioned well to life at university this year (72%) with university peers, parents and universities themselves offering the most valued support
· The results overwhelmingly show that students are happy with the choices they’ve made: not to defer (81%) and to move away from home (82%) despite coronavirus
· However, challenges remain: 54% would still like to receive more support from their university
Student Roost moves into Bristol with PBSA and co-living scheme
Student Roost has bought two new sites for PBSA schemes in York and Bristol from Summix Capital …
European University Covid-19 Tracker
The spate of Covid-19 outbreaks among students at the start of the university year may have hit the UK headlines, but how has Covid-19 impacted the start of the new academic cycle across Europe …
The Unite Group – Trading Update and Q3 Fund Valuations
The Unite Group plc, the UK’s leading owner, manager and developer of student accommodation, today announces an update on current trading, dividend and quarterly property valuations for the Unite UK Student Accommodation Fund (‘USAF’) and the London Student Accommodation Joint Venture (‘LSAV’) as at 30 September 2020 …
AXA Investment Managers – Real Assets (“AXA IM – Real Assets”), a global leader in real asset investments and the leading(1) real estate portfolio and asset manager in Europe, announces that it has entered the UK private rented residential market with the acquisition, on behalf of clients, of the iconic Dolphin Square in Pimlico, Central London, from Westbrook Partners. The neo-Georgian designed freehold asset is the largest single private residential complex in the UK, comprising 1,233 units on a 7.5 acre site. The acquisition forms part of AXA IM – Real Assets’ wider strategy of seeking high quality residential assets supported by strong demographic drivers, which it can invest into for the long term, and adds to its c. €20 billion portfolio comprising various residential asset classes across 15 countries …
Why PBSA will still be an A* investment
Since late-teens received their A-Level results, the mainstream media has been focusing on their algorithm-produced grades.
Investors in the purpose-built student accommodation sector (PBSA), however, will nervously await the figures for the number of students our universities will welcome to their campuses this autumn.
The narrative is that, in the face of continuous travel restrictions, uncertainty over future lockdowns and the prospect of a year of online-only lectures, the PBSA sector faces dwindling tenant numbers, thus declining rental income and returns on investment.
While recent musings about the fate of the sector would have you believe PBSA has slipped to the bottom of the class, this is far from the case. PBSA is and will remain an A* investment …
How the transition to university looks for this year’s cohort
With all of the challenges thrown at us this year, and the ongoing uncertainty Covid-19 is causing, there’s been a focus on how the transition to university will look for the first years joining us in 2020.
The impact of Covid-19 on universities is well documented and substantial. Understanding the ripple effect this has on student accommodation is something that is key for not only universities in the operation of their own halls, but for Unite Students and other accommodation providers nationally. Accommodation has the potential to be a challenging environment, and we understand the need to mitigating the spread of the virus. It is imperative that the right policies and procedures, managed by the right people, are in place. It is also vital we recognise our frontline teams for the amazing work they are doing to combat the spread of the virus. Whether this be through cleaning regime changes. Installing screens and ensuring a good stock of sanitiser, or the way they manage emergencies in the most severe of scenarios …
University acceptances up and student accommodation bookings in line with expectations
New survey data on bookings for purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) points to strong leasing activity.
One of the big question marks for universities and student accommodation providers over the last few months has surrounded what will happen to domestic and international student numbers for the coming year. Both have been grappling with trying to understand the potential impact a significant drop in undergraduates could have on future income when the new academic year starts in September.
A-level results day has provided us with a much clearer picture as to where we stand. And the initial figures paint a fairly positive picture. Admissions body UCAS says a total of 415,600 students have a confirmed place on an undergraduate course in the UK, which represents a 1.6% increase compared with the same point last year …