Top UK University Cities to Invest in Student Property

BIRMINGHAM, U.K. - Nov. 25, 2015 - PRLog -- Each year, the Times Higher Education reveals the top 800 universities in the World University Rankings. With fees in the UK set high across the board and students expected to leave university with an average £44,000 of debt, it’s unsurprising that their priorities are shifting.

What Students Seek¹ research by Glide Utilities (http://glide.co.uk/) revealed that a desire to live close to pubs and bars has diminished and proximity to the university campus is now one of the top things students look for in their accommodation. They also want to know that a good job will be waiting for them at the end of their course, which means the reputation of their chosen university is increasingly important.


33 British universities made the top 200 this year. Glide Utilities has therefore used the latest student average rent data² to calculate the investments that will return the greatest yield for landlords or prospective landlords considering a move into the student market.

We accept that there are numerous factors that influence a good investment decision, but based on this research alone, the University of Nottingham appears to be the best area to invest in a student property right now. Ranked 143 in the World University Rankings, a terraced house is likely to set you back an average of £102,692 and will return an annual income of £11,700. That is an 11% yield, based upon 3 student tenants.

The University of Aberdeen is another strong investment area, ranked 172nd in the World, terraced houses near the university sell for an average £177,386 and will realise a return of £17,160 or 9.7% when again let to 3 student sharers.

As for the top ranking universities, Manchester and Edinburgh look to be the best investment areas, ranked 56^th and 24^th in the World respectively. A terraced property nearby the University of Manchester will set you back £123,670, with an annual student tenant return of £11,700 (9% yield). A terraced house in Edinburgh will cost you £170,442 and will realise an annual return of £14,352 (8% yield).

If the idea of renting to students still fills you with dread, you may be surprised to hear that research⁵ conducted by Glide Utilities last year found that despite stereotypes, 84% of landlords that rent to students say they make the best tenants. This was put down to their associated benefits: better rental yields, annual market for new students, rent is guaranteed by a parent/guardian and rent is paid promptly. Only 3.7% of those surveyed reported experiencing no benefit associated with letting to students.

The Eight Best British University Cities to Invest in Student Property

World Rank  University  Postcode  Average price of terraced house³  Average weekly rent for students²  Anticipated annual income⁴  Yield
143  University of Nottingham  NG7 2RD  £102,692  £75  £11,700  11%
172  University of Aberdeen  AB24 3FX  £177,386  £110  £17,160  9.7%
56  University of Manchester  MI3 9PL  £123,670  £75  £11,700  9%
80  University of Warwick  CV4 7AL  £145,436  £85  £13,260  9%
185  University of Dundee  DD1 4HN  £118,873  £60  £9,360  8%
24  University of Edinburgh  EH8 9YL  £170,442  £92  £14,352  8%
93  University of Exeter  EX4 4QJ  £199,428  £97  £15,132  7.5%
133  University of Leeds  LS2 9JT  £186,000  £82  £12,792  7%

ENDS

For press information about Glide Utilities please contact Shelley Doyle or Chevi Davis at Present PR http://presentpr.com/

Notes

1.   Results taken from Glide Utilities’ What Students Seek survey of 714 students in March 2015. Research was conducted by Accommodation for Students and was nationwide.

2.    Results taken from Accommodation for Students annual average rent analysis of 12,200 student property listings across the UK.

3.    Statistics taken from the Rightmove House Price Index of sold terraced properties between January and June 2015.

4.    Anticipated annual income, calculated on the basis of three student tenants per household.

5.    Results taken from Glide Utilities’ 2014 Landlord Report, which surveyed 146 landlords, letting agents and private hall managers, investigating changes, trends and perspectives on the student rental market today.

·     Glide Utilities is a utilities and service provider for shared households. Founded in 2006, Glide was the first company in the UK to offer multi-tenant billing, taking the headache and financial risk out of bills for people living in shared accommodation. Glide’s mantra is bills made simple, life made simple. They exist to take the pain and stress out of utility bills, so letting agents, landlords, and tenants have more time to do the things they love.

·     Glide is recognised as one of the UK’s fastest growing businesses, having entered the Sunday Times Virgin Fast Track 100 in late 2014, and has achieved several accolades for achievement: notably, Best Business Award for Innovation: Best Business Awards 2014.

·     www.accommodationforstudents.com is the UK’s leading student accommodation website. Founded in 2000 by Simon Thompson, the site has gone from strength to strength and now attracts over 3 million visitors each year. There are over 770,000 students registered with the site and around 20,000 landlords and letting agents with active accounts.