SECTORS
Student housing
Identify leading markets and support pricing, acquisition and portfolio strategy.
From university performance to supply pipelines and rental growth, our research covers the fundamentals that drive student housing markets.
We combine asset-level data with market insight to assess pricing, occupancy and operational performance across locations – helping you identify resilient markets, sharpen investment decisions and optimise asset strategy in a highly data-led sector.
UK Student Accommodation Outlook 2026/27
UK PBSA remains resilient amid shifting macro conditions. This report examines investment trends, policy risks, and rental dynamics, alongside insights from our sixth annual Student Accommodation Survey. Together, they reveal how structural demand and evolving student preferences underpin opportunity, despite headwinds.
Our latest research
Student Accommodation Outlook: What does the student think?
The Knight Frank Student Accommodation survey, now in its seventh year, was delivered by UCAS on behalf of Knight Frank. Our work provides unique insights into the opinions and preferences of students about where they live and what they want from their accommodation. Student preferences are evolving and accommodation providers need to move with that change. This year, our survey focus was on the views and expectations of incoming students, of which we surveyed 1,502.
20 October 2026
Student Accommodation Outlook: PBSA rental market
While strong demand and occupancy continue to support rent increases in some locations, growth has moderated from recent highs and performance is becoming more uneven across markets, cities and individual assets. Affordability constraints are creating a more selective environment, placing greater emphasis on operational performance, customer experience and brand strength as drivers of outperformance.
20 October 2026
Student Accommodation Outlook: Institutional resilience is as important as student demand
Mixed signals for student demand are coming from policymakers.
20 October 2026
Student Accommodation Outlook: Investing through the noise
The drivers of PBSA investment are changing. In a more constrained capital markets environment, investors are placing greater emphasis on income growth, operational execution and institutional resilience.
20 October 2026
UK Student Accommodation Outlook
20 October 2026
UK Student Housing
07 August 2026
UK Student Market Update - Q4 2025
16 February 2026
Navigating Student Housing in 2025
17 December 2025
UK Student Market Update Q3 2025
23 October 2025
UK Student Market Update - Q2 2025
31 July 2025
Is Britain heading for a co-living boom?
01 April 2025
UK Senior Living: A maturing market poised for growth
31 March 2025
PBSA investment hits £3.9bn
31 March 2025
UK Housing Market Resilient with Inflation Risks on Horizon
28 February 2025
Green shoots in China's housing market
21 February 2025
On track for a record year for BTR completions
11 February 2025
Global housing markets: the year ahead
08 January 2025
A sober 2025 for global prime housing markets
20 December 2024
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