Urban Student Life is a property management company that specialises in the management of student accommodation, specifically, PBSA. Today Rob talks to Chris from USL who explains what the company does, the types of buildings it works with and most importantly the services and support that the company offers to the students under its care.
Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (8 Articles)
- What is PBSA?
- Why PBSA Could be a Smart Investment Choice in 2019
- How to Choose the Best Location to Invest in PBSA
- Rental Guarantees and Protections for the Investor
- A Student’s Perspective on PBSA
- Introducing Urban Student Life
- A Day in the Life of a Student Accommodation Manager
- Why Students Prefer PBSA
Urban Student Life
Rob: Chris, who are USL (Urban Student Life) and what kind of areas do USL operate in?
Chris: Urban Student Life is an accommodation management company. So, basically, we take on buildings, most of them are new buildings, new-builds and we handle the management part of it.
So, we do everything from seeing a student in, through to seeing a student out and everything in between, we handle it.
If there are any minor, maintenance issues, we look for contractors and sort it out, depending on the priority.
We make sure that the rent is paid on time and also if the rent is not paid on time, we deal with a payment-plan option, so, we go into that, as well, to give them a bit more assistance.
Rob: Is it all student properties, is that what your core focus is?
Chris: Exactly. Our focus is just on student properties and only with full-time students.
Rob: And do you have somebody on site, at all of your locations?
Chris: Yes, we do. The reception, typically, will always be open between 9 and 5, depending on the size of the building, obviously. We tend to be there on Monday through till Friday, 9 to 5.
Also, I’m available on the phone at any time that after that, weekends as well.
After 5, we have student ambassadors, who are on site. They have on-call phone numbers, so, if there are any minor issues, they can go to that, directly.
Then, depending on the priority, they will come to me.
Rob: And, geographically, as a company, so, USL, what areas do you tend to cover?
Chris: We cover everywhere from Coventry all the way up to the north and Liverpool.
Rob: That’s quite a big spread.
Interview with Chris, Property Manager at Keele House with Urban Student Life.