Harrogate’s Homes for Students set to commence expansion plan

Homes for Students is set to embark on its growth plans after securing significant administrative banking support from NatWest.

The Harrogate-based firm provides residential management services for a number of international and UK investors to UK-wide properties with a focus on the student accommodation market.

Services include marketing and lettings as well as facilities and asset management including turnkey projects and fit-out. Homes for Students manage accommodation for more than 8,000 student beds across the UK but have a pipeline of schemes which will take them to 15,000 student beds by the end of 2017 with a turnover approaching £20m per annum.

The biggest recent deal is with Mapletree, a Singapore wealth fund with Homes for Students contracting for 5,500 beds and which involved a £400m transaction by Mapletree over 25 properties in 12 cities.

Homes for Students was also recently appointed to manage four new schemes totalling 917 beds for Lothbury. The schemes are located in Aberdeen, St Andrews, Durham and London.

Martin Corbett, the firm’s managing director, said: “We provide a number of significant advantages to investors and universities who need to maximise rental income using our expertise to market and let the accommodation, and to manage their assets professionally under long-term fixed priced arrangements.”

Homes for Students recently moved its banking facilities to NatWest to support its growth strtegy. Chris Matthewman, senior relationship manager, supported the deal.

Martin added: “I’ve been a NatWest personal customer for around 30 years and have been very pleased with the service I’ve received from my private banking manager.

“I looked at a few different options before settling on NatWest for Homes for Students, as my own positive experience supported the decision to use NatWest for the new business. I have now been working with Chris for a number of months and he has been very supportive of the business during this short period vindicating my decision.”

Chris commented: “Homes for Students has seen good growth in the short time it has been operation and NatWest have been able to support this expansion. The management team are committed to the business’ long-term sustainable growth and we wish the business every success for the future.”

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