Student accommodation

Student accommodation

Once considered an ‘alternative’, Student Accommodation is now a booming mainstream asset class viewed by both UK and international investors as a key investment opportunity. This dynamic sector has seen rapid growth over recent years, with investment recorded in Q1 2024 being five times greater than Q1 2023, while maintaining a resilient track record.

The number of young people attending university has soared, with an average of 50% now taking the plunge to achieve a degree. But new heights means a need for new living space, and this is where the success of the student accommodation sector has really taken off.

We’ve been there since the beginning and have contributed to countless students residing in their new purpose-built accommodation. It is our ability to service the entire property lifecycle and call upon our specialist teams, like Planning, Construction, Banking, Corporate and Tax, that helps us to do so. Our full service offering puts us in the best position to provide our clients with strategic and commercial advice, whatever their asset and wherever their place in the lifecycle.

With a high profile and strong track record in the market, we frequently advise investors, institutional lenders and developers on everything from site acquisition, development and ongoing strategic management, and to disposal.

Our offering includes supporting clients on:

  • Site acquisition and disposal, asset management and corporate
  • Deal structuring
  • Forward fundings
  • Debt finance
  • Leases
  • Planning advice and agreements
  • Nomination agreements
  • Construction contracts
  • Construction disputes, including fire safety
  • Development management agreements
  • Property and facilities management agreements
  • Joint venture agreements
  • ASTs and licences
  • Rent arrears and disputes
  • Tax planning, particularly VAT considerations

If you’d like to hear how we can help with your Student Accommodation needs, get in touch with our team of experts who will be happy to provide support.

Key experience

Emily Davies Halls of Residence, Southampton – Far East Orchard

Acting for Singapore-based property firm Far East Orchard, we completed on the purchase of this stabilised student accommodation investment in Southampton for £13.9 million. This transaction involved efforts from across the firm with input from our Commercial Real Estate, Construction, Planning, Residential Property, Corporate, Employment and Tax teams.

Student Accommodation scheme, Kennington – HG Living

We acted on behalf of developer HG Living to advise on the forward funding of a new 185-bed purpose built accommodation scheme in Kennington. The scheme is being forward funded by International Student House, a charity providing affordable accommodation for students. Designed to achieve a BREEAM Excellent rating and provide beautifully designed shared spaces and amenities, the development is expected to complete in Summer 2026.

Eastside Locks, Birmingham - LaSalle Investment Management

We advised LaSalle Investment Management in relation to the forward funding of a 659-bed student accommodation scheme. The entire scheme has the benefit of a long term nominations agreement in favour of Birmingham City University.

Five Student Accommodation SPVs – QIP

We are acting for QIP on the sale from an investment fund to a sister investment fund of a portfolio of five student accommodation property SPVs. All transfers were subject to existing debt with warranties being supported by warranty and indemnity insurance.

Meet our team