Unite reports 'strong demand' amid student housing shortage

The UK’s largest student accommodation provider is expecting to boost rental growth over the next academic year amid “strong demand” and a shortage of supply, it said.

In a fourth-quarter trading update, Bristol-headquartered Unite Group said it had sold 66% of beds so far for 2025-2026 with occupancy estimated to be between 97% and 98%. Rental growth for the academic year is expected to be between 4% and 5%.

Unite said the outlook for student numbers was “encouraging” with domestic demand underpinned by a 2% larger population of UK 18-year-olds. It added there were also improving trends in international demand.

Joe Lister, Unite Students chief executive, said: "We have seen a st