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Sarah, Dan and Deenie are back for episode 65, this week's episode covers:

How UAE student restrictions are sending shockwaves through the UK university system. Several institutions falling outside the global top 200 rankings—including UCLan, City University, and Heriot-Watt—now face losing hundreds of international students who provide essential income. With 61% of UK universities falling in rankings this year, the panel explores what this means for PBSA operators and whether other countries might follow the UAE's lead, potentially creating a dangerous two-tier system in higher education.

The conversation shifts to the Building Safety Regulator inquiry launched by the House of Lords Committee, accepting evidence until August 31st. The panel highlights concerns about transparency, consistency, and the far-reaching impact of regulatory delays on the entire construction supply chain. As one panelist notes, "It's impacting the whole supply chain of the supply chain of the construction industry."

We also question whether stamp duty exemptions for empty nesters would meaningfully address housing market stagnation. The discussion reveals a more complex picture where downsizers seek appropriate housing options that maintain their quality of life—particularly access to gardens that keep them "young and active"—rather than simply reduced tax burdens. This illuminates a significant gap in the market for thoughtfully designed later living options that truly meet seniors' needs.

The podcast features an exclusive update on the Renters' Rights Bill from Holly Jordan-Wright of Howard Kennedy, who clarifies that while fixed-term tenancies will indeed be abolished without exception, PBSA will transition to common law tenancies outside much of the bill's remit—provided operators sign up to the national code for landlords. Implementation is now expected in late 2025 or 2026, giving operators more time to prepare.

Whether you're a PBSA operator concerned about international student numbers, a BTR developer questioning the definition of co-living, or a later living provider seeking to understand what downsizers truly want, this episode provides essential insights for navigating the ever-evolving shared living landscape.

Thank you to our season four sponsors:
MyStudentHalls - Find your ideal student accommodation across the UK.
Utopi - The smart building platform helping real estate owners protect the value of their assets.
Washstation - Leading provider of laundry solutions for Communal and Campus living throughout the UK and Ireland.

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Latest Housed episode with special guest Jonathan Burridge, Co-Founder and CEO of Utopi.

Sarah, Dan and Deenie are joined by Jonathan to discuss digital solutions to sustainability in shared living, the key themes covered in this episode include:

Smart buildings aren't just collecting data—they're transforming how we live. In this compelling conversation with Jonathan Burridge, CEO and founder of Utopi, we explore the revolutionary intersection of technology, sustainability, and human behaviour in residential real estate.

From its inception in 2019, Utopi has evolved from a simple technology solution to a comprehensive platform that helps property owners and operators leverage data to drive meaningful change. Jonathan shares how their journey has been shaped by market realities, client feedback, and global events like COVID-19, resulting in a product that delivers tangible value in today's challenging property landscape.

The revelations about resident behaviour are particularly fascinating. Jonathan describes discovering a 1400% variation in energy consumption between identical studio apartments under the same conditions—a stark illustration of how human choices dramatically impact building performance. This data-driven approach has allowed Utopi to develop effective strategies for both passive controls and active engagement campaigns like "Progress to Pizza," which successfully motivated students to reduce their room temperatures.

We dive deep into the evolution of ESG from compliance exercise to value driver. As Jonathan explains, "Most of the money in the market is saying we want green assets," creating a compelling commercial case for sustainability investments. The discussion explores how high-performing sustainable buildings attract more capital, potentially commanding better prices while avoiding the "brown discount" applied to underperforming properties during transactions.

The conversation offers candid insights into the challenges of running a tech company in the traditionally slow-moving real estate sector—what Jonathan describes as "running a sprint while real estate runs a marathon." Yet despite these challenges, the fundamental case for smart building technology remains strong, particularly as energy markets face continued volatility and sustainability requirements intensify.

Ready to discover how smart building technology is reshaping the future of residential property? Listen now and learn how data is becoming the key to unlocking value for people, planet, and profit.

Thank you to our season four sponsors:
MyStudentHalls - Find your ideal student accommodation across the UK.
Utopi - The smart building platform helping real estate owners protect the value of their assets.
Washstation - Leading provider of laundry solutions for Communal and Campus living throughout the UK and Ireland.

Send us a text

Stepping away from remote recording, the Housed - Shared Living Podcast team gathers in-person at a London studio to tackle pressing issues reshaping the shared accommodation landscape in Episode 63.

Following energetic feedback from their UKREiiF coverage, the hosts reveal ongoing conversations to create a dedicated hub for PBSA, BTR, and co-living sectors at future events. This grassroots initiative aims to address the significant representation gap, particularly for student accommodation, which currently receives minimal attention despite its market importance.

The conversation shifts to a groundbreaking development – the government's plan to implement Google DeepMind's Gemini model in planning departments by 2026. While this AI innovation promises to slash processing times by scanning hundreds of files in seconds, the team debates whether automation might inadvertently encourage cookie-cutter designs or even marginalize architectural input. Despite these concerns, they recognize AI's potential to free planning officers from administrative burdens and allow more focus on creative assessments.

Perhaps most revealing is their deep dive into HomeViews' latest Build to Rent report. Against conventional wisdom, residents overwhelmingly prioritise practical considerations – transport links, flexible tenancies, and responsive maintenance – far above luxury amenities like cinema rooms or games spaces. The data exposes a fundamental disconnect between what developers market and what genuinely drives satisfaction.

Most striking is the revelation about security perception. When 78% of young adults cite "stability and security" as their primary motivation for homeownership, it suggests BTR and PBSA sectors face a messaging challenge rather than a product problem. Residents simply aren't aware these accommodation types can provide the tenure security they crave.

The conversation concludes with a call for greater tenancy flexibility, noting universities already beginning to offer two-year agreements with frozen rents. As the podcast team heads off to continue their strategy session over lunch, they leave listeners with a challenge to reconsider what truly matters in shared living spaces: not bowling alleys and rooftop terraces, but the fundamental human needs for security, flexibility, and community.

What housing innovations would you like us to explore next? Share your thoughts and help shape future episodes.

Thank you to our season four sponsors:
MyStudentHalls - Find your ideal student accommodation across the UK.
Utopi - The smart building platform helping real estate owners protect the value of their assets.
Washstation - Leading provider of laundry solutions for Communal and Campus living throughout the UK and Ireland.