Page 23 - StudyTravel Magazine April 2025 Issue

SPECIAL REPORT

Flexibility in
lease terms is also
becoming a key
factor in student decisions.
In the UK, while 22 per cent
of international students
favour 12-month leases, 32
per cent of students from Asia prefer
accommodation contracts that last
for the full duration of their degree,
according to data from The Property
Marketing Strategists (TPMS) https://
tprc.co.uk.
Amber Student has also noted
shifts in preferences toward privacy
and practical amenities. “Students

increasingly prioritise affordability and Photos: Australian Homestay Network,
functional amenities such as Wi-Fi, LIV Students, Londonist, Resa
laundry facilities, and utilities over
luxury features like pools and gyms. expansion plans and new services. THE ROLE OF
Privacy is also a growing priority, with “We are planning to expand our
single-occupancy housing becoming portfolio of rooms in PBSAs for the HOMESTAYS
more popular,” explains Madhur. next academic year,” says Michele,

Additionally, accommodation highlighting efforts to accommodate Homestay remains an attractive
providers are witnessing shifts increasing demand. option for international students,
in the nationalities of students Ben shares details about The Social particularly those seeking
seeking housing. Eleonora Guardini, Hub’s growth. “This year, we are affordability and additional support.

Commercial and Marketing Director launching three new hubs – a second Harsha Brown (Shivdasani) at
of Spanish accommodation provider location in both Florence and Rome, Hosts International www.hosts-
Resa https://resa.es notes significant and our first in Porto.” international.com, highlights the

changes. “Over the past year, we have Amber Student has introduced value of homestay and adds they
observed an increase in the arrival digital-first solutions to streamline are continuously working to keep up

of students from the United States, the student experience. “Amber+ with the ever-growing demand: “We
keeping it in the top five nationalities streamlines students’ study-abroad continue to recruit and expand for our

alongside Italy, France, China, journeys with services like bank partner schools to take pressure off

and Mexico. Additionally, we have account creation, forex cards, loans, them to know that they have secure,
detected significant growth in the internships, and luggage shipping, available quality accommodation

number of residents from Romania.” simplifying the transition process for homes available for their students.”
Eleonora has also students,” explains Madhur. However, David Bycroft of
observed a concentration Resa has also enhanced its Australian Homestay Network www.
in key student markets. onboarding process for international homestaynetwork.org points out
“In 2024, the number of students, ensuring a smoother transi- some challenges. “Getting hosts in
countries our students tion. “This program includes all the appropriate locations is an ongoing
came from decreased essential information that a student, challenge as students want to be

from 116 to 105, reflecting likely on their first visit to the city as close to their place of study as

a concentration in where they will live, needs to know,” possible,” he says. Additionally, he
certain key markets,” she Eleonora elaborates. notes that persuading over-18s to

explains, highlighting a Evidently, accommodation consider homestay can be difficult.
shift in international providers must adapt to rising costs, AHN’s new app for hosts will soon
mobility trends. evolving student expectations, be available for students globally

Despite economic and increasing demand for flexible, and is designed to be an all-in-one
pressures, providers community-driven options. solution to manage the homestay
are responding with delilah@studytravel.network experience, David shares.

20 STUDYTRAVEL MAGAZINE