Who this desk is for
This desk supports active buyers of UK Purpose-Built Student Accommodation — funds, family offices, private investors, and operators — who already have a clear strategy and can fund an acquisition. If you are still learning the asset class, start with the investment and buying guides first; we work best when criteria are specific enough to match against live and off-market opportunities.
| Fit | Not a fit (yet) |
|---|---|
| 50+ bed PBSA strategy; clear cities and ticket | Browsing only — start with the investment / buy guides |
| Ready to model income, operator, and BSA risk | HMO / residential flips marketed as “student” |
| Want off-market or curated introductions | Expecting guaranteed yield without diligence |
What you get from the desk
Once we have a written brief, we run a buy-side process: shortlisting schemes that fit your criteria, introducing confidential off-market opportunities where relevant, and supporting underwriting through to completion. The aim is fewer, better-matched opportunities — not a long list of unrelated stock.
| Deliverable | Detail |
|---|---|
| Brief intake | Written criteria locked (cities, beds, ticket, exclusions) |
| Matched shortlist | On-market picks and/or confidential off-market intros |
| Pricing context | Yield bands, sold comps, operator / BSA flags to check |
| Process support | Diligence coordination through legal completion |
Buy-side advisory / commercial agency fees
When we act as acquisition agent or buy-side advisor — sourcing and executing a deal for an institutional buyer, private equity fund, or family office — the commercial agency fee is typically charged as a success fee on the gross purchase price. The bands below are indicative market ranges; exact terms depend on exclusivity, ticket size, and the scope of work.
| Structure | Typical rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Standard buy-side | 1.0% – 1.5% | Of gross purchase price (~£100k–£150k per £10m) |
| Off-market premium | 1.5% (occasionally up to 2.0%) | Strict exclusivity; more common on prime lots under £20m |
| Larger tickets (£25m–£50m+) | 0.75% – 1.0% | Percentage compression, often with a minimum floor fee |
We confirm the fee structure before work starts. You do not need a retainer to share a brief or have an initial conversation.
What to bring to the first call
Matching works best when the brief is specific. Before we open data rooms or share confidential opportunities, it helps to lock the fields below — even approximate ranges are useful. Incomplete criteria usually mean slower or less relevant introductions.
| Field | Example |
|---|---|
| Cities / catchments | Named cities or university towns; walkable preference if any |
| Beds | Min–max (e.g. 80–250); studio vs cluster preference |
| Ticket | Equity cheque and/or total consideration band |
| Asset type | Stabilised / recently completed / development / portfolio |
| Timeline | Ready now, this term, or 6–12 months |
| Hard nos | e.g. no forward fund, no BSA remediation unknowns |
On-market vs off-market
Most serious buyers use both routes. Browse PBSA for sale for open marketplace stock and pricing context. Off-market introductions from this desk are confidential and only shared once your brief is clear — often before a scheme is marketed more widely. This page is the buy-side desk, not the listings index.
| Path | What you get | Start |
|---|---|---|
| Marketplace | Open stock — owned by the PBSA for sale listings page | PBSA for sale |
| Off-market desk | Confidential match to your brief before wider release | Connect via Speak to us |
| Sold comps | Price-per-bed and yield context for pricing | Sold PBSA |
How the acquisitions desk works
The process is designed to move from criteria to a completed purchase without wasting time on schemes that were never a fit. Typical steps:
- Brief — agree cities, bed range, ticket size, asset type, and hard exclusions so matching stays focused.
- Match — shortlist on-market schemes and/or introduce confidential off-market opportunities that fit the brief.
- Price — review income, operator, and yield context using city yield bands and sold comps.
- Execute — coordinate diligence and transaction steps through legal completion (see the due diligence guide).
Recent PBSA transactions
Recent sold schemes for pricing and yield context. These are not live opportunities for sale.
| Property | Location | Beds | Sale Price | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nottingham City Centre PBSA | Nottingham | 195 | £19.2M | Nov 2025 |
| Bristol Harbourside PBSA | Bristol | 220 | £22.5M | Sep 2025 |
| Edinburgh University PBSA | Edinburgh | 165 | £17.8M | Jul 2025 |
| Manchester City Centre PBSA | Manchester | 180 | £18.5M | May 2025 |
| Leeds University PBSA | Leeds | 240 | £24M | Mar 2025 |
Need process depth first?
This page covers the commercial buy-side desk — how we work with buyers who are ready to acquire. If you want the full acquisition process in more detail, including sourcing, offers, finance, and completion mechanics, start with the guides below.
Read how to invest in PBSA for the full acquisition process, or PBSA finance help if debt structuring is the next question.
FAQs
What should I bring to a first acquisitions call?
A short brief: target cities or catchments, bed count range, ticket size (equity and/or total), asset type (operational, development, portfolio), timeline, and any hard exclusions (e.g. no forward fund, no cluster-only). Incomplete briefs slow matching.
Is there a minimum ticket or bed count?
We typically work from around 50+ beds. Smaller schemes in prime university catchments can still fit if fundamentals are strong. Ticket size varies by buyer — share your equity capacity early so we do not send unfundable opportunities.
On-market vs off-market — how do you work?
Live marketplace listings are open to browse. Off-market introductions are confidential and matched to a written brief before details are shared. Many buyers use both: scan /properties for comps, then use the desk for exclusive flow.
What are buy-side advisory fees?
When we act as acquisition agent or buy-side advisor (sourcing and executing for an institutional buyer, PE fund, or family office), the commercial agency fee is typically 1.0%–1.5% of the gross purchase price — about £100k–£150k per £10m. Strictly off-market exclusives often sit at 1.5% (occasionally up to 2.0% for prime lots under £20m). On £25m–£50m+ tickets, percentages usually compress toward 0.75%–1.0%, often with a minimum floor. We confirm the structure before work starts — no retainer required to begin a brief.
How long do deals take?
Operational schemes often complete in roughly 60–120 days once under offer. Off-market can move faster when packs are ready; portfolios and building-safety remediation typically take longer.
When are we not a fit?
Pure HMO / house flips, sub-scale schemes without a clear PBSA strategy, or buyers seeking guaranteed yield without diligence. If you need asset-class education first, start with the investment and buying guides — then come back with a brief.