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The emergence of student accommodation as an institutionalised property sector

Author

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  • Graeme Newell
  • Muhammad Jufri Marzuki

Abstract

Purpose - Amongst the alternative property sectors, student accommodation has recently become an important institutionalised property sector for pension funds and sovereign wealth funds in the global property landscape, particularly in the UK. The purpose of this paper is to assess the significance, risk-adjusted performance and portfolio diversification benefits of student accommodation in a UK property and mixed-asset portfolio over 2011–2017. Drivers and risk factors for the ongoing development of the student accommodation sector are also identified. The question of student accommodation being a proxy for residential property exposure by institutional investors is also assessed. Design/methodology/approach - Using annual total returns, the risk-adjusted performance and portfolio diversification benefits of UK student accommodation over 2011–2017 is assessed. Asset allocation diagrams are used to assess the role of student accommodation in a UK property portfolio and in a UK mixed-asset portfolio for a range of property investor types. Findings - UK student accommodation delivered superior risk-adjusted returns compared to UK property, stocks and REITs over 2011–2017, with portfolio diversification benefits. Importantly, this sees UK student accommodation as strongly contributing to the UK property and mixed-asset portfolios across the entire portfolio risk spectrum and validating the property industry perspective of student accommodation being low risk and providing diversification benefits. Student accommodation is also not seen to be a proxy for residential exposure by institutional investors. Practical implications - Student accommodation is an alternative property sector that has become increasingly institutionalised in recent years. The results highlight the important role of student accommodation in a UK property portfolio and in a UK mixed-asset portfolio. The strong risk-adjusted performance of UK student accommodation compared to UK property, stocks and REITs over this timeframe sees UK student accommodation contributing to the mixed-asset portfolio across the entire portfolio risk spectrum. This is particularly important, as many investors (e.g. pension funds, sovereign wealth funds) now see student accommodation as an important property sector in their overall portfolio. Originality/value - This paper is the first published empirical research analysis of the risk-adjusted performance of UK student accommodation, and the role of student accommodation in a UK property portfolio and in a UK mixed-asset portfolio. This research enables empirically validated, more informed and practical property investment decision making regarding the strategic role of student accommodation as an alternative property sector in a portfolio.

Suggested Citation

  • Graeme Newell & Muhammad Jufri Marzuki, 2018. "The emergence of student accommodation as an institutionalised property sector," Journal of Property Investment & Finance, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 36(6), pages 523-538, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:eme:jpifpp:jpif-01-2018-0007
    DOI: 10.1108/JPIF-01-2018-0007
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Inderst, Georg, 2020. "Social Infrastructure Finance and Institutional Investors. A Global Perspective," MPRA Paper 99239, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    2. Olayiwola Oladiran & Adesola Sunmoni & Saheed Ajayi, 2021. "What Property Attributes are important to UK University Students in their Online Accommodation Search?," AfRES 2021-004, African Real Estate Society (AfRES).
    3. Julia Heslop & Josh Chambers & James Maloney & George Spurgeon & Hannah Swainston & Hannah Woodall, 2023. "Re-contextualising purpose-built student accommodation in secondary cities: The role of planning policy, consultation and economic need during austerity," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 60(5), pages 923-940, April.
    4. Graeme Newell, 2021. "Future research opportunities for Asian real estate," International Journal of Urban Sciences, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 25(2), pages 272-290, April.

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