Orka Investments has acquired Hill View Place, a fully let 226-bed purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) scheme in Exeter, for its UK joint venture with a global institutional real estate investor.
The acquisition was part-funded via a loan facility with an accordion structure provided by Investec Real Estate, with financial terms and the purchase price undisclosed.
Located adjacent to the University of Exeter’s Streatham Campus, the fully tenanted asset expands the joint venture’s portfolio to 1,512 beds across four UK cities, adding Exeter alongside existing assets in Birmingham, Glasgow and Aberdeen.
Orka’s joint venture was launched in December 2025 with three acquisitions.
The deal brings Orka’s total UK student housing platform to 2,080 beds across six properties.
Raoul Malhotra, founder and CEO of Orka Investments, said: “The years when student housing could rely on rapid rent growth are behind us, and that changes where returns come from. Students now choose between purpose-built accommodation, shared houses, build-to-rent and living at home.
“PBSA cannot always win that competition on price alone, so we win it on product, service and flexibility, and a well-located building like Hill View Place gives us everything we need to do that.”
Philippe de Croÿ-Solre, VP, investments at Orka Investments, said: “Hill View Place is a high-quality, fully let scheme in a Russell Group city where applicant numbers are rising faster than anywhere else in the group. We are pleased to have completed it efficiently alongside our partners and advisers, and we have further acquisitions in the pipeline.”
Sebastian Walley, originator, real estate finance at Investec Real Estate, said: “The UK remains a global higher education leader, which has underpinned our over 15-year track record funding high-quality, well-located student schemes.
“We are particularly comfortable supporting sponsors that understand the trends driving customer demand and manage leasing arrangements, as this usually results in a more reliable income stream that performs well across a cycle.”
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