Broker Knight Frank said on Monday that it has bolstered its Purpose Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) business to provide a fully-serviced global platform.
The firm has created a dedicated Student Property service line focusing on Europe, the Middle East and Africa (MENA), Asia-Pacific and America as the key investment hubs.
Knight Frank, which has been active in this space for the last 10 years, has strengthened its exposure to the specialist sector following continued investor appetite and an increase in global wealth looking to enter the market.
Headed up by James Pullan, the newly formed proposition will span valuations, agency, development consultancy and research – offering developers and investors a global perspective and one-stop shop for PBSA. Knight Frank’s new offering aims to advise investors on moving capital and diversifying their property portfolios, as well as driving the delivery and development of global PBSA stock.
Knight Frank’s new global platform is centred across four key hubs – Emily Fell, based in Singapore, will be responsible for the Asia-Pacific region, Joseph Morris in Dubai will oversee MENA and Ryan Lang in Texas leads the American team.
'Purpose Built Student Accommodation has become a globalised asset class,' Pullan said. 'International investors recognise the story of a growing cohort of international students choosing higher education abroad. The sector is seen by investors as aligned with the highly stable higher education sector but underpinned by the structural undersupply of accommodation.'
