Tips For Renting To International Students.
June 12, 2015
BRITISH universities are experiencing a boom in foreign students, with the number of international students coming to the country to study having soared by 67% in 10 years.
With the percentage of overseas students at British universities expected to rise from 15 per cent of all students in 2008 to 21 per cent in 2018, this influx presents a real opportunity for letting agents to capitalize on.
But this new chance at a wider tenant base comes with its own set of issues.
First, overseas students are less likely to be able to visit a property before signing a tenancy. We are increasingly seeing agencies use property videos and even the current darling of the tech world Periscope to give guided tours around properties.
Secondly, although they may good at hitting the books, do they know their mould from their mildew? And more significantly, when it comes to their responsibilities, will they understand what you’re talking about?
Ensuring that you’re speaking the same language as your tenant when it comes to reporting problems and repairs is the best way to get ahead in this market. One of the major problems with letting to students, particularly international ones, is a disconnect when it comes to communications. You need to make it crystal clear to your tenants exactly what their responsibilities around the house are, regardless of their nationality.
Fixflo’s online reporting system is available in over 40 languages and lets tenants know exactly what they are responsible for fixing, so you won’t be bothered with calls about changing lightbulbs. It also provides simple self-help steps to fix basic problems so tenants all around the world can be part of their own solutions. A tool like this can prove invaluable to international students who may think that even a basic instruction manual reads like double dutch!
Obviously there are a number of other things to consider when it comes to deciding to enter the student letting market like late night check-ins after they arrive at the airport. Our point is simply that if you do decide to get into this market, don’t be put off the international quotient. In this instance, it might just pay not just to go local…
If you’re a landlord in the student lettings market find an agency in your area who has invested in a Fixflo system to maintain your property more effectively.
You May Also Enjoy
We’ve got the visitors. Now we need your listings.
Sponsored content, paid for by Domovita. More than 10,000 people a month come to Domovita, and nearly nine in ten of them arrive on a sold-price page for one particular street, looking up what the houses there went for. You can look up your own patch here. What those people don’t find yet is enough…
Read More 
Housing market hit by £18m increase in fall-through costs in Q2 2026
The latest Fall-Through Index by the House Buyer Bureau reveals that the number of property fall-throughs across the UK increased by 6.6% during the second quarter of 2026, resulting in an additional £18.3m in costs to the housing market compared to the previous quarter. House Buyer Bureau analysed the latest data from TwentyCi on the…
Read More 
More than half of ‘Mumlords and Dadlords’ give rent back to help children buy their first home
54% of parents return some or all of the rent paid by their adult children to help them save for a deposit Just over a third say their children are living at home specifically to save for a house deposit; 45% say they feel like a landlord to their own child Parents charge £303 a…
Read More 
The First-Time Buyer Reality Shock
The First-Time Buyer Confidence Gap: 90% Feel Prepared, 71% Get an Unpleasant Surprise The First-Time Buyer Anxiety Index unveils a major ‘confidence gap’ which leaves first-time buyers unprepared for the realities of getting on the property ladder. Nine in 10 first-time buyers believe they are prepared and understand the home buying process before they begin…
Read More
£50k hit when climbing the property ladder
The average homeowner in England faces an estimated £15,513 in associated costs when upsizing their home, according to the latest research by Yopa. However, in London this figure climbs as high as £47,704. The full-service estate agency analysed the estimated cost of upsizing across England, based on selling an average flat or terraced home and…
Read More 
Conveyancing causes more stress than property chains
The latest research by Lyons Bowe has found that 42% of recent homebuyers say conveyancing is the biggest barrier to a smooth property transaction, compared with just 19% who point to property chains. The survey of 1,000 recent homebuyers* examined which aspects of the transaction process had presented the biggest barriers to a smooth journey,…
Read More