Top places for university property investment revealed

With the new academic year here once again and with many students returning to University for another semester full of hard ‘work, leading online estate agent eMoov.co.uk has uncovered the best locations to invest in a student property.

e.Moov’s University Property Index gives each university an index score assessed on how they perform against the average UCAS entry requirement in relation to the typical average property price in the area.

Northern rules

Results from the investigation show that the North of England and Scotland are top of the list, with eight of the top ten scoring universities. A UCAS entry level requirement of 547 points, coupled with an average property cost of £214,735 sees Durham top the list, with an eMoov index score of 102.[1]

Coming in second was Strathclyde with an index score of 96. Manchester took the final podium position with 90, with Edinburgh (89) and Warwick (84) making up the top five.[1]

Nottingham (84), Lancaster (83), Leeds (82), St Andrews (80) and Aberdeen (79) completed the top-ten. However, the soaring prices of property in London has seen its universities fair poorly in the Index. Of 117 universities involved in the study, 15 of the 17 outside of the top 100 are located in the capital.[1]

Just four of London’s universities made it into the top 100, but interestingly, were all awarded a negative index score. The universities were namely Queen Mary’s in 94^th place and with a score of -30, the London School of Economics (96^th, -37), East London University (96t^h, -37) and Kings College London (100^th, -74).[1]

Bottom of the class

At the other end of the scale, the worst performing University in the Index was the Imperial College London, despite having a large UCAS entry points requirement of 568. The colossal property prices in London SW7 gives the University a cost per entry point of £3,361, 368% more than the study average. This results in an eMoov Property Index total of -309%.[1]

The age-old battle between Oxford and Cambridge saw the former come out on top, ranking at number 13 with Cambridge lagging behind in 19^th.

Another survey of 1,000 homeowners from eMoov found that 70% would be interested in buying a solid investment property, if it meant their child could establish themselves on the property ladder.[1]

Costly

‘Sending your kids off to university can be a joyful occasion for many parents and is often the first time they fly the nest to fend for themselves,’ observed Russell Quirk, founder and CEO of eMoov.co.uk. ‘What with the recent increase in university fees and the cost of living, it can also be an extremely expensive time for parent and student alike, as the debt begins to pile up.’[1]

Quirk believes that, ‘this study shows which universities offer the best level of degree, but also an affordable property price, should you want to invest in a house for your child, or even as a uni-let for yourself.’[1]

Concluding, Mr Quirk said that, ‘students are certainly an easy target where the high street letting agent is concerned and it is common practice for agents to strip them of their hefty deposits, for even the most minor of reasons. Not only does buying a university property avoid this but it also provides a future home should they stay in the chosen city for work, or a great money making opportunity renting to future students.’[1]

The top-twenty universities in the Index were found to be:

[1]

[1] http://www.propertyreporter.co.uk/landlords/where-is-top-of-the-class-for-university-property-investment.html