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For this week's episode, Deenie Lee and Dan Smith sat down with Fred-Lerche Lerchenborg, CEO of Lavanda to discuss one of the biggest shifts happening in student accommodation right now – term-time short and mid-length stays.

Term-time short stays are moving from a summer bolt-on to a core PBSA strategy, and the data shows the biggest demand isn’t “commuter students” but longer 30-day to 4-month stays. We break down what’s driving it, why it’s city-specific, and what operators and investors can do now to pilot flex without creating operational chaos.

We unpack some really interesting data and trends from across the market, including:
- The growing rise of 30+ day stays during term-time, reshaping traditional short-let demand patterns
- How a surprisingly small proportion of bookings are actually driving the majority of commercial performance
- Why performance varies so significantly by city — and what that means for scaling (and why a “one-size-fits-all” national strategy doesn’t hold up!)

PLUS we answer some of the big strategic questions for the sector, including:
Are flexible stays being treated as strategy… or just a fallback?
Are buildings actually designed for 30–60 night stays?
And is technology holding the sector back?

If today's episode got you thinking, and we really hope it did, please do share it with someone else in the sector who needs to hear it.

https://www.getlavanda.com/insights/30-day-student-stays-long-stay-flexible-student-accommodation-is-growing-faster-than-anyone-expected/

https://www.getlavanda.com/insights/the-10-that-matters-most-which-are-your-most-profitable-term-time-bookings/

https://www.getlavanda.com/insights/same-programme-different-economics-how-term-time-short-stay-demand-varies-by-city/

Who this episode is for:

• PBSA and student accommodation professionals
• BTR, co-living and rental operators
• Property developers and investors
• University and higher education leaders
• Anyone working in or around housing policy and shared living

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of their employers, organisations, clients, or partners. This podcast is for general discussion and informational purposes only. Nothing said should be taken as professional, legal, financial, or investment advice. While we aim to be accurate, we make no guarantees and accept no liability for decisions made based on the content of this podcast. This was a jointly sponsored podcast.

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We're back! After a 2 week break over the Easter holidays the latest Housed episode is out now.

On this episode we are delighted to be joined by Billy FitzJohn - Associate Director at Howden to discuss the Howden Student Happiness Index 2025/26. This unique piece of research offers the sector insights into how happy students are, what worries them and what motivates them.

Sign up for the Student Happiness Index here.

We are also discussing:
- The hospitality vs home debate - how do tourist guests impact the residential experience?
- PBSA - did we call it? The news is full of 'the end of PBSA' - what can be done to protect the UK PBSA market?
- The impact of the 2-year degree on accommodation.

Stay up to date on Housed podcast via the website and LinkedIn page

Dan Smith is Founder of RESI Consultancy and Co-Founder of Verbaflo.AI.

Sarah Canning and Deenie Lee are Directors and Co-Founders of The Property Marketing Strategists - Elevating Marketing in Property.

Thank you to our season four sponsors:
Mystudenthalls.com - Reach thousands of students searching every month with 0% commission student accommodation listings.

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.

Howden - With a lifetime of expertise, Howden provides tailored insurance, property risk management, and wellbeing solutions for accommodation providers across the UK.

Who this episode is for:

• PBSA and student accommodation professionals
• BTR, co-living and rental operators
• Property developers and investors
• University and higher education leaders
• Anyone working in or around housing policy and shared living

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of their employers, organisations, clients, or partners. This podcast is for general discussion and informational purposes only. Nothing said should be taken as professional, legal, financial, or investment advice. While we aim to be accurate, we make no guarantees and accept no liability for decisions made based on the content of this podcast. This was a jointly sponsored podcast.

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We're tackling some of the tougher topics this week, including:
- Why first impressions of student accommodation count?
- Does the sector prepare students for shared living?
- Why is it so hard to build PBSA or BTR right now?
- Is there an energy crisis?

This episode includes data from The Property Marketing Strategists Youth Forum on Gen Z's First Impressions of Accommodation.

Stay up to date on Housed podcast via the website and LinkedIn page

Dan Smith is Founder of RESI Consultancy and Co-Founder of Verbaflo.AI.

Sarah Canning and Deenie Lee are Directors and Co-Founders of The Property Marketing Strategists - Elevating Marketing in Property.

Thank you to our season four sponsors:
Mystudenthalls.com - Reach thousands of students searching every month with 0% commission student accommodation listings.

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.

Howden - With a lifetime of expertise, Howden provides tailored insurance, property risk management, and wellbeing solutions for accommodation providers across the UK.

Who this episode is for:

• PBSA and student accommodation professionals
• BTR, co-living and rental operators
• Property developers and investors
• University and higher education leaders
• Anyone working in or around housing policy and shared living

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of their employers, organisations, clients, or partners. This podcast is for general discussion and informational purposes only. Nothing said should be taken as professional, legal, financial, or investment advice. While we aim to be accurate, we make no guarantees and accept no liability for decisions made based on the content of this podcast. This was a jointly sponsored podcast.