Student Accommodation in Europe is attracting overseas investors

For overseas investors, finding the right property which offers great returns is often hard to find. The budget of small investors often does not stretch far enough so that they can purchase non-residential commercial property.

However, overseas investors have not really explored the possibility of investing in student accommodation which comes with lower risks and higher yields.

What are the benefits?

A lot of money has been invested by foreign investors since 2012, in fact it’s around £6 billion, and so what exactly makes it such as eye-catching prospect?

The main thing to consider is the fact that international students are increasing in numbers, this means that the demand for student accommodation will grow considerably. For those looking to invest, it will mean that there is a lower risk as students will always require accommodation.

Student accommodation investment also come with higher yields with the average yield being around 4-6% each year. This figure can change depending on the location and the size of the university but the yields are certainly achievable.

The price of apartments can be relatively low with apartments in Liverpool being available for as little as £70,000 and with this comes complete management of the property as investors only invest as a way of maintaining capital. This will mean that the property is managed on a daily basis from finding tenants to dealing with repairs.

However, there are potential problems. Repurposing these buildings is often difficult because they have been built specifically for students and they are therefore located in specific areas. Investors are not able to use the apartments for their own use and tenants have to be studying at the university.

It has already been mentioned that the average yield is around 4-6%, so anything promised above this is likely to come with risks such as the location and a lack of demand. Therefore, purchasing a brand new property will mean that yields can be achieved straight away.

The countries that investors should consider are the UK, Germany and France. This is because the markets in these countries offer reliability as well as demand. For investors, choosing the right fine location means it has to have one magnet and this means a university that has a low supply of property and student accommodation.

In the UK the likes of Bristol, London and Edinburgh have a low supply and this makes them ideal locations for student accommodation. The number of students heading to the UK to study is on the rise and the same can be said for international students. Students are now searching for accommodation that is plush, comfortable and has everything that they need and this is great for investors as it gives them an insight into what they need to invest in, allowing them to ensure that they make the right investment that comes with the best yields.

Mark Burns

Mark Burns is a Director and Property Investment Consultant at Hopwood House. With over 10 years' experience in property investment, Mark has provided investors with a wide range of opportunities in exotic locations around the world.

You May Also Enjoy

Breaking News

£43,078 decrease in average to market price of newbuild properties in the East Midlands since July 2024

Average house prices for new instructions regarding newbuild properties being marketed in the East Midlands have dipped by £43,078 in the period between July 2024 to July 2025.       Elsewhere across the UK, year on year as of July 2025, the North East saw instructions for newbuild properties dropping by £37,123, and in the South…
Read More
Estate Agent Talk

Hipster hotspots drive market activity south of the river

The latest research from leading London lettings and estate agent, Benham and Reeves, has revealed that while more homes have sold north of the River Thames over the last 12 months, it’s south of the river that is seeing more homes sold on average per borough, driven by the popularity of hipster hotspots such as…
Read More
Estate Agent Talk

Yarmouth named the UK’s most prestigious marina

The latest research from eXp UK has found that living close to some of the nation’s most idyllic marinas comes at a significant cost, with Yarmouth Harbour topping the list for the highest house price premium in the country at 61.3% eXp UK analysed the housing markets surrounding 21 of the UK’s most picturesque marinas…
Read More
LIVING BY THE SEASIDE 2022
Breaking News

Whitby crowned most exclusive coastal location

The latest research from Yopa has revealed that while Brighton in the South East is home to the highest monthly coastal mortgage cost, it’s Whitby in North Yorkshire that commands the highest premium when compared to the wider region, with the average monthly mortgage sitting payment 33.7% higher than the Yorkshire and the Humber average.…
Read More
Breaking News

ONS report on private rental affordability

Private renters on a median household income could expect to spend 36.3% of their income on an average-priced rented home in England, compared with 25.9% in Wales and 25.3% in Northen Ireland in 2024. Private rental affordability has fluctuated since 2016 but remained above the 30% affordability threshold in England, while it moved below the…
Read More
Breaking News

End of August Will See an 84% Increase in UK House Moves

The last week of August is always a busy time for moving, with an average of 3.5% of all yearly moves taking place in that week, being the busiest week for moving in 2023 and the second busiest week for moving in 2024. 2025 is expected to be no different and should see a larger…
Read More