GSA - Global Student Accommodation

At the end of September, our entire team gathered in Dorking, UK, for an engaging three-day event. Our Annual Employee Conference. With our team working across the globe, this invaluable face-to-face time was dedicated to: 👏 Celebrating our successes 💡 Challenging and enhancing our ways of working 📈 Engaging in discussions on our future strategy 🏅 Recognising the incredible achievements of our colleagues. We’re thrilled to share this highlight reel capturing moments of connection, insight, and excitement from our time together. Thank you to everyone at GSA for their active participation and commitment to our mission. #TeamGSA #WeAreClientFocussed #WeCare #WeAreResultsDriven #WeAreAccountable #GrowthMindset #StudentHousing #PBSA #GlobalCommunity

Yesterday, Richard Fisher, Eurpoean Head of Portfolio Management, took part in the Yardi and Property Week Think Tank on the role that proptech is playing in shaping the student housing of the future. With conversation including the opportunities for financial and operational efficiencies, the user experience, and the benefits and varying expectations of students, parents, employees and investors, this is clearly a topic with exceptional breadth and depth. What is clear is that it's an area that will be integral to the evolution of the #PBSA sector in the years ahead. #studenthousing #studentaccommodation #proptech

We have announced that we have refinanced three of our UK assets with NatWest Group. The £110m+ investment facility is for three properties across the cities of London and Bristol. Commenting on the deal, Heather McKenzie, Associate Director of Debt Capital at GSA said: "The PBSA sector continues to demonstrate its resilience, underpinned by strong demand and opportunities to supply high standard accommodation. These fundamentals are recognised by NatWest, who we have an existing relationship with, and we look forward to deepening this partnership." Read more here: https://lnkd.in/evmbUFeW

Next week is the Global Student Living Investor Summit in London. Bringing together 120 investors, operators and developers within the #PBSA sector, the event is a unique opportunity to have meaningful discussion and debate with the people responsible for the future direction of the sector. Alongside colleagues from across The Dot Group, at Yugo, Kinetic Capital, and Student.com, the GSA team will be moderating or chairing a number of sessions - Aaron Bailey, Richard Fisher and Sorrel Basher. We look forward to seeing you there.

On the 15th October, Richard Fisher, European Head of Portfolio Management at GSA will be speaking at Yardi’s PBSA Think Tank organised by property week. We're looking forward to exploring the role that smart ecosystems and AI can play in student housing, for the benefit of students, operators, and owners. #pbsa #studenthousing #studentaccommodation #tech #AI

We're looking forward to attending the Property Week #InspiringWomeninPropertyAwards next week. There are some exceptional women shortlisted across the categories, and we're delighted that Lydia M., Regional Development Manager at GSA, is amongst them. Best of luck to all the finalists. #pbsa #studenthousing #studentaccomodation #womeninpbsa #womeninrealestate #womenleadingrealestate

At GSA we’re proud to be developing residences that have sustainability at the heart of their design. We’re delighted that our approach, in partnership with our global operating partner Yugo, has been recognized in the Property Week Student Accommodation Awards, with Yugo St Crispin’s Place shortlisted in two categories: 💚 Climate Crisis Initiative 🏘 Private Halls of Residence We look forward to celebrating the success of everyone in #StudentLiving at the event in December. #pbsa #studentaccommodation #studenthousing #awards

The GSA and Yugo team, including Rob Waterhouse and Robin Moorcroft, kicked off this year’s Europe GRI Club conference with a run around the landmarks of Paris this morning. A great way to set the scene for the conference ahead and network in a less conventional way! We’re looking forward to another day of stimulating and thought provoking discussion tomorrow. #griclub #realestate #pbsa #studentacccommodation #runparis #investment #networking

Earlier this week, GSA’s Rob Waterhouse took part in the annual Bisnow Student Accommodation event. In a stimulating session on affordability, supply and demand it became clear that there is a desperate need for creative solutions - in financing, deal structuring, planning policy and design – if we are to increase supply and bring forward viable schemes. To achieve this, we need to go further than value engineering existing properties. It calls for coordination amongst all stakeholders and greater flexibility from the planning department to allow for innovative design over a prescriptive approach. It’s an issue that isn’t unique to the UK, and we can learn from elsewhere. In Tokyo, where space is at a premium and rents can be sky high, price point was a considerable factor in the design of our two student residences. With an emphasis on shared communal spaces, individual and shared rooms are considerably smaller than in Europe or the U.S., with up to four people sharing a 36 square meter ‘nest’. While this model won’t be appropriate for London, Dublin or Madrid, it does demonstrate true innovation in design and configuration that is currently restricted in many other markets. #studentaccommodation #pbsa #studenthousing #students #planning

Recently, Ireland introduced a regulation capping student accommodation leases at 41 weeks to align with the academic year. Although well-intentioned, this measure has unintentionally impacted the availability of student housing as it further erodes viability for new supply. Notably, students who are unable to secure purpose-built student accommodation due to limited supply will still need to sign year-long leases in the private rental market or for shared houses and flats. This crisis cannot be resolved alone, and collaborating with industry to boost housing supply will result in better outcomes for students. Without substantial improvements in viability, which in turn would increase supply and affordability, the student housing crisis in Ireland is likely to continue.    In an article this weekend in the Business Post, Ireland’s leading real estate analyst Colm Lauder argues that such interventionist policies, especially when they are introduced without industry engagement, pose a substantial risk addressing supply issues in PBSA, and the wider housing market. https://lnkd.in/dRP3yFiv