Agents gear up for student accommodation onslaught

Property industry supplier Iamproperty says some 670,000 students will likely be seeking private rental properties in the upcoming academic year - starting now.

The supplier says that with many of these students living independently for the first time, agents have a critical role to play in ensuring smooth transitions into their new homes, which comes with an uptick in time-consuming admin. This includes scheduling appointments for key handovers and providing thorough property inductions, particularly highlighting essential features such as fire and carbon monoxide alarms.

Co-founder Ben Ridgway comments that even as students are moved in, demands on agents’ time is likely to continue as many students may be unfamiliar with basic property maintenance, leading to common issues being exacerbated. 

For example, over a third (37%) of surveyed students reported experiencing damp, often worsened by not knowing how to properly ventilate rooms after showers. Similarly, 29% cited a lack of water or heating as a significant issue, which could often be mitigated by simple checks, such as monitoring boiler pressure.

Agents are encouraged to provide clear guidance to these new tenants, helping them understand the importance of regular property care to prevent these common issues. By doing so, agents not only enhance the student experience but also reduce the likelihood of emergency maintenance requests as the academic year progresses.

Ridgway concludes: “As the influx of student tenants begins, Agents can make their lives easier by ensuring they are fully equipped with the tools needed to manage this busy period efficiently and effectively, and that goes for the rest of the year, too.”