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The expansion of large developers moving into the student rental accommodation sector (especially when international students numbers are down) reflects, if Lancaster is any guide, a major move to cannibalise the business of local small scale renters using housing stock to accommodate students.
The big developers will claim they can offer better accommodation (broadband etc.) but really its just one more sector where consolidation into oligopoly is underway.
@ChrisMayLA6 There's also another reason why new student housing is being built in cities that need normal housing - developers can evade requirements for certain other facilities, and house people more intensely, thus making even more money. When, after a few years, they prove that there's too much student accommodation for demand, it is then 'converted' into housing.
Aha, an interesting extra element to the development (pun intended) - makes sense; I'll be watching the vast increase in student housing in Lancaster to see if that is how it plays out... but certainly isn'r implausible
And as pointed out down thread, they're cheap to build because no kitchens, en suite bathrooms, parking, etc.
In the Revisionist History podcast, Malcolm Gladwell devoted two episodes to U.S. universities (S6, Episodes 2 and 3). In E3, among other topics, Gladwell discussed student accommodation.
At high-ranking unis, the average cost of constructing a single student flat was $2m in 2020. This is the level of craftsmanship the wealthiest demand for their children.
https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/revisionist-history/id1119389968?i=1000527176172
This is where UK unis are heading – student castles in Oxford, cardboard boxes in Glasgow.
@ChrisMayLA6
It sounds very similar to Leicester.
Many streets that were student housing (victorian terraces in poor repair) are now becoming HMOs and 'care homes' as huge commercial student blocks are opened - some of which seem to be targeted at wealthy overseas students.
I had hoped that the victorian terraces might revert to family homes - fat chance!!
Yes, I wondered whether 'care home' occupancy might flow into the vacuum caused by a shift in student rentals... ng sure its happening here yet, but a clear possibility
@ChrisMayLA6 We looked at a couple of places when our daughter thougt she might be moved to Leicester. There seemed to be several places providing work for builders near each of them
Same in Bristol. City centre is now just vast quantities of student accommodation, specifically for the overseas students, without whom of course the Universities would not survive, at least not as they are now.