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
London land commands £105,213 per acre
The latest research from LandSale, the new property portal dedicated to land and rural property, has found that land in London commands an estimated average value of £105,213 per acre, almost eight times higher than the British average of £13,281 and higher than every other British region. This premium is being driven by a severe lack…
Read More 
77% of homebuyers seek homes requiring no work
The latest research from Yopa has found that 77% of homebuyers who have purchased within the last year were looking for a property requiring little or no work, highlighting the importance of presenting a market-ready home in current conditions where buyers are harder to come by than they were a year ago. Yopa commissioned a…
Read More 
Riskiest Places to Purchase Property in England
Cash House Buyer Sell House Fast has revealed the riskiest places to buy and sell property in England, based on factors such as crime rates, flood risk, air pollution levels, road collision rates, and coastal erosion risk. The 5 riskiest places for buying and selling property in England: 1 – North East Lincolnshire (Overall Risk…
Read More 
House prices steady in May despite broader market uncertainty
The latest Halifax House Price Index for May 2026 shows that: House prices fell by -0.1% between April 2026 and May 2026. This marks the second consecutive month of marginal monthly decline. Annual house price growth increased slightly to 0.5% in May 2026, up from 0.4% in April 2026. The average UK house price now…
Read More 
Halifax House Price Index – May 2026
House prices steady in May despite broader market uncertainty. House prices edged down -0.1% in May, following a similar -0.1% fall in April Average property price now £298,806, compared with £299,251 in April Annual growth up slightly to +0.5%, from +0.4% in April Northern Ireland continues to record the UK’s strongest annual growth at +7.8%…
Read More 
More mortgage borrowers turning to shorter-term fixes
Borrowers are increasingly turning to shorter-term fixed-rate mortgages in response to higher rates, new analysis of mortgage search activity on Moneyfactscompare.co.uk has found. The share of Moneyfactscompare.co.uk website users comparing two-year fixed-rate mortgages increased from 48.4% in February to 55.6% in May, while demand for five-year fixed deals fell from 27.7% to 21.8% over the…
Read More