“My thanks to the industry leaders who took part in this campaign and shared their views on the future of UK student accommodation.
Their contributions offer a fascinating look at how the sector is evolving, covering everything from student expectations and affordability to investment, sustainability and innovation.
I hope you enjoy exploring their perspectives and find plenty to consider for the years ahead.
The People Shaping the Conversation:
Anthony Mellalieu
Chief Operating Officer, Urbanest
Kate Forester
Group Managing Director, Homes for Students
Matt Burton
Chief Partnerships Officer, UPP
Sam Scott
Managing Director, Fresh Property Group
Simon Griffiths
Senior Vice President of Operations, Yugo
Tom Rix
Chief Operating Officer, Student Castle and Capitol Students
Market & Demand
“The cost of university and the cost of living are at the forefront of student decision-making and, now more than ever, we are seeing that influence the demand on accommodation mixes within PBSA.”
Kate Forester
Group Managing Director, Homes for Students
“Demographic projections suggest domestic full-time undergraduate numbers may plateau, or even decline slightly after 2030, if participation rates remain static against a shrinking 18-year-old population. Perhaps we will see numbers retreat to early 2020s volumes, which are still significant.”
Matt Burton
Chief Partnerships Officer, UPP
Strategy & Investment
“The previous cycle was characterised by rapid expansion and yield compression; today’s environment demands a much sharper focus on income durability and operational performance.”
Tom Rix
Chief Operating Officer, Student Castle and Capitol Students
“Investment into UK PBSA hit £2.1 billion in the first quarter of 2026 alone; the strongest start to a calendar year for the sector in more than a decade, so capital isn’t waiting around for a downturn that isn’t coming, despite the normalisation of demand and the normalisation of rental growth following the post-COVID uplift.”
Kate Forester
Group Managing Director, Homes for Students
Student Experience & Value Proposition
“The definition of value is changing in the sense that living in PBSA is now increasingly holistic and experience-driven, rather than centred around price point.”
Anthony Mellalieu
Chief Operating Officer, Urbanest
“At Yugo, our Live Your Best Life (LYBL) programme brings this approach to life through three pillars: YugoEco, YuPro and YuGrow. It gives students opportunities to live more sustainably, develop personally and professionally, and build meaningful connections within their communities.”
Simon Griffiths
Senior Vice President of Operations, Yugo
UK PBSA IN NUMBERS
*Stats from CBRE and Frank Knight UK
invested in 2025 — UK PBSA investment rose 10% year-on-year
bed structural shortfall
new beds delivered in 2025 - supply increased 20% from 2024
Affordability & Regulation
“The sector can and should respond by offering a broader range of price points, designing more efficient buildings, reducing operational waste and using data to optimise services.”
Sam Scott
Managing Director, Fresh Property Group
Sustainability & Innovation
“At urbanest, a commitment to constructing all major new developments to Passivhaus standards is an indication of the innovative ways in which we are looking to enhance university life for our residents, while leaving a positive environmental footprint at the same time.”
Anthony Mellalieu
Chief Operating Officer, Urbanest
“Technology is an increasingly powerful enabler. Better use of operational data can improve building performance, enhance resident services, optimise maintenance and reduce energy consumption. Digital tools should ultimately make accommodation more responsive to students’ needs while supporting better decision-making for operators and university partners.”
Matt Burton
Chief Partnerships Officer, UPP
“ESG is now embedded in capital allocation decisions, but the next phase requires moving from intent to measurable outcomes.”
Tom Rix
Chief Operating Officer, Student Castle and Capitol Students
Regulatory Changes
“The strategic response should be proactive rather than defensive: clear risk ownership, stronger data reporting, scenario planning, regular policy horizon scanning and early engagement with sector bodies.”
Sam Scott
Managing Director, Fresh Property Group
“The Act raises expectations around transparency, consistency and accountability across the residential sector. For boards, this reinforces the need for robust tenancy frameworks, strong compliance oversight and systems capable of demonstrating that appropriate standards are being met.”
Simon Griffiths
Senior Vice President of Operations, Yugo