Green Street News: Could UK build-to-rent tempt students from purpose-built blocks?
The rise of build-to-rent (BTR) in UK university cities could present a new challenge for traditional purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA), according to research from StuRents.
Data from StuRents' 2024 Annual Student Accommodation Report shows just 11,000 new PBSA beds were delivered in 2024 — less than a third of the 37,000 added in 2019. With student numbers continuing to rise, this supply shortfall has created opportunities for BTR to move into what has traditionally been PBSA’s territory.
StuRents’ research highlights early signs of this shift in locations like Leeds, where an influx of high-end, comparatively expensive PBSA has coincided with increased BTR development. Factoring in new BTR units, Leeds has seen a total supply increase of 15,000 beds since 2017 — outstripping the city's student population growth of 12,000 over the same period.
“For PBSA investors, traditional methods of assessing demand are no longer enough,” the report notes.
While BTR won’t replace PBSA, StuRents’ analysis suggests it will increasingly compete for the same students — particularly affluent domestic and international students looking for larger living spaces and more flexible lease deals.
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Social Media Executive at StuRents
Will Davis is the Social Media Executive for StuRents and Concurrent.
