Property Forum’s series of virtual events, organised in partnership with the RICS, continues with an online panel discussion focused on residential asset classes such as student housing and build-to-rent. Our diverse group of panellists will answer all the burning questions that may arise in this unprecedented situation.

Construction of the new Student Depot student housing block in Gdańsk is going faster than planned despite the challenges created by the global COVID-19 pandemic, owner Kajima reports. The facility is due to be complete in the summer, ready to welcome its first students in September 2020.

6B47 Poland has acquired a 0.22 ha site on ul. Grochowska in Warsaw’s Praga Południe district from petrol station operator Circle K for the development of a 12,000 sqm student housing project. The developer was advised by BSWW Legal & Tax, Accace and ó TPA Real Estate Services.

International investor Aurec Capital has expanded its portfolio in the private rented sector (PRS) in Poland. The transaction of the Puławska 186 project completed between Aurec Capital Poland and Matexi Polska is worth over €22 million (PLN 100 million). JLL advised the investor on the purchase of the property.

Cordia International is continuing its international expansion. Following Romania, Poland and Spain, the developer is entering the German rental housing market through the acquisition of a 20.6% stake in ARGO Properties N.V. for €34.4 million.

Residential investments in Europe used to be the domain of certain specialised investors but that is now changing as other players that have previously invested exclusively in office or retail are looking at investments in the living sector. Maximilian Mendel, Head of Living Investment at JLL in Poland, talked to Property Forum about current trends in CEE residential investment.

Demand for alternative residential investments, mainly student housing and residential-for-rent, is clearly growing in Central & Eastern Europe with countries like Poland offering great opportunities for developers. More than 130 real estate professionals came together at the first-ever Alternative Investment Forum, organized by CEE event and intelligence hub Property Forum, in Warsaw.

Atrium European Real Estate published its financial results for 2019 and announced that the Board and management had been undertaking a strategic review to identify further growth opportunities to deliver strong, long term sustainable income returns to shareholders. The strategic review focused on, amongst other things, leveraging the operating platform in Poland and the Czech Republic and diversification into other classes of real estate, focusing on residential-for-rent

In 2020, student housing markets in Europe are expected to grow stronger with Poland becoming one of the most attractive countries at a continental level. Stefan Kolibar, Head of Marketing at Bonard talked to Property Forum about the trends driving this segment regionally and globally.

Česká pošta has sold the former St. Gabriel Monastery, located in Prague's Smichov district, to the CIMEX group for €14 million (CZK 353 million).