Occupancy levels in purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) have on average reached pre-pandemic figures in many countries, a new study released by market research and advisory specialist Bonard shows.

Kajima, the pan-European real assets business, has announced it is opening a Warsaw investment office following the appointment of Jan Trybulski as Investment Director and Head of Poland. Jan will be working closely with Kajima’s existing logistics, living and renewables teams to support current operations and drive the expansion of the company’s project pipeline in Central Europe.

A rapid growth in student numbers will drive demand for student housing in the next five years across all larger European university hubs – especially major Spanish and Italian cities, Savills forecasts. Also in Poland, prime PBSA occupancy remains high despite the pandemic and provision of student accommodation is expected to grow soon across Polish cities.

Residential investment sectors are gaining traction across Europe, with the volume of capital targeting student accommodation, the private rented sector and purpose-built age-targeted housing continuing to rise, according to Knight Frank’s European Residential Investment Survey 2022.

The Polish star is shining brightly on the European map of private student housing investments with rising rents on the horizon, said speakers during a discussion panel at Living Investment Forum 2021 in Warsaw, moderated by Martin Varga, Head of Real Estate Business Development at Bonard.

As part of the restructuring of the Avestus Real Estate business, a new residential development entity, SHD Real Estate (SHD) has been established. The new company will continue to work on residential opportunities with a remit to develop across all residential sectors, including residential for rent and student accommodation. SHD will be operated and managed by the original Avestus Real Estate residential team based in Prague and they will be investing in opportunities across the country. Avestus will continue to focus on its existing commercial development portfolio, the latest project under construction being the Infinity office complex in Wroclaw.

Zeitraum, an international operator of student housing schemes, has just taken over the management of its first dormitory in Poland as Zeitgeist Asset Management, an investor operating on the Polish market for several years, finalised the purchase of a privately-run student hall located in Kraków from NNS. The asset is located at 33 Koszykarska Street and has been operating under the Unibase brand for three years. It can accommodate 345 people in 157 rooms. The first students will move into the building in September. JLL experts supported the investor in the purchase of the asset.

Michał Okoń, Managing Director of Zeitgeist Asset Management in Poland talked to Property Forum about the forecasts for the PRS market in Poland, subscription services and the impact of the pandemic on the rented apartment segment.

Speakers at 2021 Property Investment Outlook 2021, an online event organised by Property Forum, have indicated unbroken market optimism. From living investments through the retail market to the office segment, participants in panel discussions expected positive changes and further growth in the CEE property market.

Eagle JVCo, the investment vehicle established in 2019 between Vienna-based Value One and Nuveen Real Estate on behalf of its parent TIAA, has agreed to acquire a portfolio of purpose-built student housing and two development sites in Poland.