Poland is one of the six largest higher education centres in Europe, ranking fifth in student population within the European Union and attracting an increasing number of international students. How many beds are available in the country’s student houses? How likely is private purpose-built student accommodation to meet the growing demand from the rising student population? These questions are explored in the latest report from BNP Paribas Real Estate Poland.

Kajima Europe has acquired Student Depot's third development site in Warsaw. This acquisition brings the total number of buildings operated and secured to 12, reinforcing Student Depot's position as Poland’s leading developer and operator of student accommodation.

Renata McCabe-Kudła, Country Manager at Grupo Lar Poland, talked to Property Forum about the current state of affairs in the Polish residential market, implementing the ESG standards in new projects and the development of the PBSA sector.

According to the 2024 European Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) Investment Barometer, conducted by The Class Foundation and Savills, involving investors and operators with portfolios totalling over 132,000 beds across Europe, with an asset value of c.€25.3 billion, respondents expect to increase the number of beds they have by 70% over the next 2-5 years. 

StudentSpace, a student housing platform, launched earlier this year by Signal Capital Partners, Griffin Capital Partners, and Echo Investment, announced the start of the construction of its first investments. The company has secured two prime plots in Kraków for the development of two dormitories. Located near public transportation, these new dormitories will provide convenient access to universities and downtown areas, accommodating over 1,200 students. Looking ahead, StudentSpace plans to launch projects in Warsaw, with construction expected to begin next year. These are the first investments by StudentSpace, which aims to build 5,000 beds over the next 3 to 5 years. The company also launched a website and brand identity.

Private student housing (PBSA) investor roomies has announced the closing of a transaction with 6B47 Real Estate Investors AG for two projects in Poland. 

Savills, on behalf of private investors, together with CA Ventures and Golub & Co., has completed the sale of LivinnX, a Purpose Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) building in Kraków, Poland, to Xior. The asset, LivinnX, has 290 self-contained units with 673 student beds and offers many amenities, including a roof terrace with a jacuzzi, climbing wall, gym, sauna, community kitchen, laundry room, music room and various other recreational and study spaces. The total lettable area is c.14,400 sqm. The price has not been disclosed.

BPI Real Estate Poland in partnership with Acteeum Group has sold a site in Warsaw to the Romanian-Belgian real estate developer Speedwell. With this acquisition, Speedwell enters the Polish market and announces the development of its first student housing project in Poland.

A new player enters the field of private student housing investments in Poland. roomies is a startup with the aim to invest in PBSA in Poland and to develop more than 2,000 units within the next 5 years. 

Futureal Investment Partners, a member of Futureal Group, and 1 Asset Management, an investment management company, backed by real estate development company Hanner, have announced the successful transaction involving the division and sale of two buildings within Lipowy Office Park located at Żwirki I Wigury St. in Warsaw, Poland. The price has not been revealed.