in 2022
Student
Accommodation
January 2022
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afs | student accommodation in 2022
Key trends and insights
University and city performance
Confidence
Predictions and forecasts 
Two years in review 
Student numbers growth and change 
afs | student accommodation in 2022
AFS Website traffic
2021 2020 2019
Initial covid impact

Covid impact on
International students
HMO marketvibrant
Late market cycle
AFS enquiries
2021 2020 2019
Landlord and agent enquiries
2021 2020 2019
PBSA enquiries
2021 2020 2019
2021/22 applications
and acceptances
143,000 international students applied (-5%) 
70,055 accepted (-18%)
563,00 in total accepted (-1%)
606k students applied (5% up)
492k UK students accepted (1% up)
afs | student accommodation in 2022
International
challenges
63% see UK as a better option
than other countries
72% want more information about
what the year will look like 
88% of international applicants see
the UK as a positive or very positive
place to study
afs | student accommodation in 2022
afs | student accommodation in 2022
Student numbers
Undergraduate Postgraduate Total
219,000
additional
students
Grade inflation and
flight to quality
28% up on 2019
Just increase in overall 18 year
old population
3%
103k 18 year old students accepted
at higher tariff providers
11% increase on 2020
afs | student accommodation in 2022
Top 20 Universities
UK Rank 202 University City/Town
1 University of Oxford Oxford
2 University of Cambridge Cambridge
3 Imperial College of London London
4 UCL London
5 London School of Economics and Political Science London
6 University of Edinburgh Edinburgh
7 King’s College London London
8 University of Manchester Manchester
9 University of Warwick Warwick
10 University of Glasgow Glasgow
UK Rank 202 University City/Town
11 University of Bristol Bristol
12 University of Birmingham Birmingham
13 University of Sheffield Sheffield
14 Queen Mary University of London London
15 Lancaster University Lancaster
16 University of Southampton Southampton
17 University of Leeds Leeds
18 University of Nottingham Nottingham
19 University of Exeter Exeter
20 Newcastle University Newcastle
Confidence
afs | student accommodation in 2022
How confident are you about
student accommodation in 2022
18% planning to increase property portfolio
60% no change
15% planning to reduce portfolio size 
90% to stay in student accommodation market 
7.7/10
25% 10
63% over 10
Did you incur rent arrears?
60% 

No
3% 

Yes significant
36% 

Yes limited
Did you let all of your rooms for 2021?
80% 

Yes
20% 

No
What % of your
portfolio was
not let?
Do you expect to let all of
your properties for 2022?
85% 

Yes
5% 

Some not all
4% 

No
6% 

Not sure
Are you increasing rent?
66% 

Yes
10% 

Not sure
24% 

No
How could letting to
students be made easier
afs | student accommodation in 2022
Communication 
Responses around the booking process
Confirmation of viewings 
Better parenting!
Unite afs | student accommodation in 2022
60% sold
58% up
Later sales cycle for international students
Targeting re-bookers 
3 – 3.5% rent growth 
70% of students returned 
88% occupancy 2020/21 
94% 2021/22	
90% of stock in RG Unis
100% of pipeline
Current modes of study
51% 

Blended
9% 

Remote
40% 

On-Campus
Should any remote techniques remain?
68% 

Yes
32% 

No
The future of higher education
afs | student accommodation in 2022
Blended learning
But will take a long time...
Online lectures available for flexibility
Online exams and assignment submission
Ad hoc zoom meetings when required
Shorten the academic cycle
Multiple entry points
Globalisation
... 2022 afs | student accommodation in 2022
Further growth in student numbers
If not intake
‘Hot’ HMO market
In most cities
PBSA focus on rebookers and UK direct lets
Recovering international student sector
Rent pressure on PBSA, flexibility for HMO 
Potential impact on bills inclusive offering 2023
August explosion and secondary peak
Thank you!

Student accommodation in 2022

  • 1.
  • 2.
    Connect with us Pleasefeel free to connect with us on LinkedIn. Just scan the QR code using your phone. Get the latest updates on our LinkedIn page Use the QR code to open our LinkedIn page Keep in touch with the latest news here: accommodationforstudents.com/
 student-landlord-guides
 The webinar will start in a few minutes, we are just waiting for delegates to join. afs | student accommodation in 2022
  • 3.
    Key trends andinsights University and city performance Confidence Predictions and forecasts Two years in review Student numbers growth and change afs | student accommodation in 2022
  • 4.
    AFS Website traffic 20212020 2019 Initial covid impact Covid impact on International students
  • 5.
    HMO marketvibrant Late marketcycle AFS enquiries 2021 2020 2019
  • 6.
    Landlord and agentenquiries 2021 2020 2019
  • 7.
  • 8.
    2021/22 applications and acceptances 143,000international students applied (-5%) 70,055 accepted (-18%) 563,00 in total accepted (-1%) 606k students applied (5% up) 492k UK students accepted (1% up) afs | student accommodation in 2022
  • 9.
    International challenges 63% see UKas a better option than other countries 72% want more information about what the year will look like 88% of international applicants see the UK as a positive or very positive place to study afs | student accommodation in 2022 afs | student accommodation in 2022
  • 10.
    Student numbers Undergraduate PostgraduateTotal 219,000 additional students
  • 11.
    Grade inflation and flightto quality 28% up on 2019 Just increase in overall 18 year old population 3% 103k 18 year old students accepted at higher tariff providers 11% increase on 2020 afs | student accommodation in 2022
  • 12.
    Top 20 Universities UKRank 202 University City/Town 1 University of Oxford Oxford 2 University of Cambridge Cambridge 3 Imperial College of London London 4 UCL London 5 London School of Economics and Political Science London 6 University of Edinburgh Edinburgh 7 King’s College London London 8 University of Manchester Manchester 9 University of Warwick Warwick 10 University of Glasgow Glasgow UK Rank 202 University City/Town 11 University of Bristol Bristol 12 University of Birmingham Birmingham 13 University of Sheffield Sheffield 14 Queen Mary University of London London 15 Lancaster University Lancaster 16 University of Southampton Southampton 17 University of Leeds Leeds 18 University of Nottingham Nottingham 19 University of Exeter Exeter 20 Newcastle University Newcastle
  • 13.
    Confidence afs | studentaccommodation in 2022 How confident are you about student accommodation in 2022 18% planning to increase property portfolio 60% no change 15% planning to reduce portfolio size 90% to stay in student accommodation market 7.7/10 25% 10 63% over 10
  • 14.
    Did you incurrent arrears? 60% 
 No 3% 
 Yes significant 36% 
 Yes limited
  • 15.
    Did you letall of your rooms for 2021? 80% 
 Yes 20% 
 No
  • 16.
    What % ofyour portfolio was not let?
  • 17.
    Do you expectto let all of your properties for 2022? 85% 
 Yes 5% 
 Some not all 4% 
 No 6% 
 Not sure
  • 18.
    Are you increasingrent? 66% 
 Yes 10% 
 Not sure 24% 
 No
  • 19.
    How could lettingto students be made easier afs | student accommodation in 2022 Communication Responses around the booking process Confirmation of viewings Better parenting!
  • 20.
    Unite afs |student accommodation in 2022 60% sold 58% up Later sales cycle for international students Targeting re-bookers 3 – 3.5% rent growth 70% of students returned 88% occupancy 2020/21 94% 2021/22 90% of stock in RG Unis 100% of pipeline
  • 21.
    Current modes ofstudy 51% 
 Blended 9% 
 Remote 40% 
 On-Campus
  • 22.
    Should any remotetechniques remain? 68% 
 Yes 32% 
 No
  • 23.
    The future ofhigher education afs | student accommodation in 2022 Blended learning But will take a long time... Online lectures available for flexibility Online exams and assignment submission Ad hoc zoom meetings when required Shorten the academic cycle Multiple entry points Globalisation
  • 24.
    ... 2022 afs| student accommodation in 2022 Further growth in student numbers If not intake ‘Hot’ HMO market In most cities PBSA focus on rebookers and UK direct lets Recovering international student sector Rent pressure on PBSA, flexibility for HMO Potential impact on bills inclusive offering 2023 August explosion and secondary peak
  • 25.