Investment in purpose built student accommodation has hit a record high
28 April 2021 • 6:00am
Students in university towns such as Stoke-on-Trent are ditching terraced houses in favour of professionally-managed new build blocks
Credit: Andrew Michael/UIG
Small landlords are being forced out of the rental market by large property investors who poach tenants with the promise of flashy purpose-built flats.
The pandemic is exacerbating the trend, with businesses like John Lewis converting shops into high-end accommodation and even the City of London turning landlord.
The squeeze on traditional buy-to-let investors is particularly acute in the student market, where the purpose built sector is more mature, and is now being seen as a blueprint for how build-to-rent will hurt urban landlords over the longer term.