Some of the higher spec student housing would probably convert ok to the 'co-living' sector - small studio flatlets let to young professionals. But I suspect the student housing that's most likely to be hard to let will be the tiny bedrooms that don't work as permanent housing for any other group.
And levelling out the market is really helpful for the housebuilding sector. Building homes takes time - the sector isn't able to increase output much in a boom, but loses capacity in a downturn, which is hard to build back. If prices were more stable, we could build more homes.
There aren't many other economic levers that can be pulled like this - Help to Buy could stimulate the market, but it was arguably left in place too long previously when prices were already growing fast. In contrast stamp duty can be flicked on and off more easily.
At an event today with a speaker on business's growing use of AI. They get to a slide comparing household saving levels in 2025 & 2026. Speaker "Er...actually AI made these slides and it's got the 2025 and 2026 labels swapped round.."
Not filling me with confidence on the growing AI revolution....
Stamp duty is a lever Governments have used successfully in the past to try to level out the market - stamp duty holidays encourage people to buy when the market is sluggish, and putting it back up again can help stem a runaway market (and raise useful tax).
The UK housing market is notoriously cyclical - and "over-corrects" in economic terms - when prices are rising everyone hurries to get on the ladder, and prices shoot up. Once they start falling, everyone holds back, and prices fall.
Very interested to see that the Government is looking at stamp duty reform. But abolishing it completely could mean Government loses one of the few levers it has to try to stablise the housing market. 🧵
With demographic change, concerns about the value of going to university and tighter rules for foreign students, I suspect we'll see more of these applications to convert student housing to other uses.
I've written more about these ideas in this collection of essays. Some other good ideas too to support first time buyers: www.pocketliving.com/bucket/pocke...
With the Future Homes Standard now launched more people will be living in homes with advanced technologies such as heat pumps, mechanical ventilation systems, and solar PV.
How do we build and manage these homes so they work for the people who live in them?
housingforum.org.uk/events/susta...
Anna Clarke
Anna Clarke
Anna Clarke
Anna Clarke
Anna Clarke
Anna Clarke
Anna Clarke
Anna Clarke
Anna Clarke
More student housing getting converted into other uses due to low occupancy, this time in Leeds (hoping to in this case).
www.placeyorkshire.co.uk/pbsa-threadw...
The Housing Forum
The 548-bed purpose-built student accommodation in the city centre has submitted plans for a temporary change of use that would allow part of the building to operate as short-stay hotel accommodation ...
