Unite Group (LSE:UTG) has reported reservation levels of 95% across its Unite Students accommodation portfolio and 91% for Empiric’s Hello Student properties ahead of the 2026/27 academic year, with bookings broadly in line with or ahead of the previous year.
The student accommodation provider said its portfolio remains concentrated around high-tariff UK universities, where student acceptances are increasing.
The company now expects like-for-like income growth of between 0.5% and 1.0%, reflecting slightly higher occupancy and broadly unchanged rental rates.
Unite also reaffirmed its adjusted earnings per share guidance of 41.5p to 43.0p for the 2026 financial year.
The group confirmed that its newly completed Hawthorne House development in Stratford, which provides 719 student beds, is fully let.
Alongside its existing accommodation portfolio, Unite is implementing changes to its sales and marketing approach and introducing shorter undergraduate tenancy agreements. The company expects these measures to create additional opportunities for semester-based and short-term letting income.
Unite Group operates through its Unite Students and Hello Student brands, providing accommodation for approximately 72,000 students across 207 properties in 29 UK university towns and cities. It maintains partnerships with more than 60 universities.
The London-listed Real Estate Investment Trust specialises in purpose-built student accommodation and is pursuing a sustainability strategy targeting net zero carbon across its operations and developments by 2030.
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