Liverpool investment boosts student accommodation investment

Student accommodation property investors were put at ease this week as Liverpool University committed to a £600m development project, demonstrating the level of investment UK universities are prepared to put into growth and future success.

While a growing number of interested investors have moved into the student accommodation investment arena in recent months, speculation has remained. But, new revenue streams created by legislative changes from the government, have allowed universities to afford modern accommodation for modern student life, and Liverpool is a university city that is clearly ahead of the pack. A report on Construction Enquirer website also revealed that applications to the university have doubled in the past 12 months, showing that demand is on the up.

Further, these applications are not just being generated from the UK, because affluent areas across Europe and the rest of the world are looking to send their children to high-performing universities capable to providing first-class education.

Property expert Graham Flaherty explains: "Liverpool is a popular student destination for British school-leavers, but it is internationally recognised too. What does that mean for investors in student property? Well, if it’s of a good standard, it means demand will be high and sustainable for some time ahead, which has to be good news."

Under new rules universities can charge up to £9,000 per student, so there will be further room for development, and it is not just accommodation that will be impacted because research and development areas as well as sporting facilities will also be invested heavily into.

What this means for investors is that universities like Liverpool will have even more attractive facilities with which to lure students and graduates of tomorrow, which in turn will mean higher levels of demand for quality and modern housing facilities.

Flaherty adds: "Moving forward universities in the UK will be smarter, modern and innovative, reflecting the students that study there. They will require something quite different than we have seen before in terms of housing, and any investment into a buy-to-let student home is likely to be a wise one."

Clearly, the face of student accommodation is changing, and today students require vastly different working and living spaces, and accommodation that offers student social areas, IT rooms, study areas and comfortable and spacious rooms are more than a nice-to-have.

Article written and supplied by Graham Flaherty - Investment Rental Property

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