Student Property Investment Birmingham

Birmingham City Centre
Daniel Williams
Daniel Williams
Senior Property Writer
5 Min Read

Located in the heart of the West Midlands and acting as the UK’s second-biggest city, student property investment in Birmingham is widely considered one of the best investments to make in 2023. 

Keep reading to find out why:  

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If you’re a student property investor in Birmingham, you’ll only want to know one thing: 

What is the return potential of a Birmingham student property investment? 

Well, the West Midlands city is offering some of the best returns seen in the UK property market in 2023. 

Birmingham property currently boasts an average price of £231,270, according to the UK House Price Index – £53,739 below the UK average. 

This gets even more affordable for those making a student accommodation investment, with some student apartments available for as little as £56k. 

Factoring in an annual rental income of £19,092, according to Home.co.uk, investors can earn rental yields upwards of 8.26%. 

So, what’s the bottom line? 

The Birmingham student property market is affordable with high rental income potential. This makes student investment property in Birmingham a top choice in 2023. 

Birmingham - Bullring Birmingham - Bullring

Birmingham’s Student Population 

As of 2023, Birmingham is one of the UK’s youngest cities. 

Home to approximately 1.14 million people, around 40% of Birmingham’s bustling population is under 25, with a large student population of over 100,000.  

Due to these high student numbers, student demand is massive, leading to an increased supply of student houses in the region. 

As such, there are plenty of opportunities to find a top student investment property in Birmingham. 

It gets better: 

Birmingham has a large population of international students, with over 10,000 in the University of Birmingham alone. 

This is important for investors as international students are up to 2.2 times more likely to rent purpose-built student accommodation, according to Savills. 

Five Universities in the Birmingham Region 

Likely the main reason behind Birmingham’s massive student population is the fact the city is home to five famous universities: 

  1. The University of Birmingham 
  2. Birmingham City University 
  3. University College Birmingham 
  4. Aston University 
  5. Newman University  

There is also a whopping 20 universities and higher education facilities within one hours drive of Birmingham. 

But it’s not the number of universities attracting students from across the globe. Instead, the quality of education in Birmingham sets the city apart from many in Europe. 

Birmingham is one of the premier UK student cities, with the University of Birmingham ranked 14th out of 130 institutions in the Complete University Guide league table for 2023. 

According to Knight Frank, this has led to an above-average graduate retention rate of 46%. 

Not only does this mean students are coming to Birmingham to study, but they’re also choosing to stay and work.  

This is good news for investors, who have the option to purchase both student property and residential apartments to diversify their portfolios. 

The University of Birmingham 

Chief amongst Birmingham’s higher education facilities is The University of Birmingham. 

Part of the prestigious Russell Group, a collection of 24 research-led universities in the UK, the University of Birmingham is the preferred choice of over 30,000 students and 7,000 staff members. 

The seventh-largest university in the UK and ranked in the top 100 universities in the world, Birmingham offers a fantastic opportunity for students and investors alike.  

This has been mirrored in its academic successes, with a staggering 85% of those completing their degrees securing a 2.1 or higher degree.  

Its main campus is three miles from Edgbaston, making the area incredibly popular for student accommodation. 

Birmingham Regeneration - The HS2 Birmingham Regeneration - The HS2

Massive Regeneration Potential 

While the quality of universities is a big attraction to the city, future job opportunities also play a part in students’ minds. 

Luckily for those living (and investing) in Birmingham, the city offers some incredible job opportunities, with more on the way. 

The city is already home to HSBC, Deutsche Bank, and PwC, resulting in Birmingham having the largest business and financial hub outside of London.  

Better yet: 

Thanks to six major urban regeneration projects, the number of jobs is set to sky-rocket in the not-so-distant future. 

The main projects include the Big City Plan and High Speed 2, which are set to create a combined 80,000 new jobs. 

With major development focused on the city centre, such as Birmingham Smithfield and Paradise, the area is the perfect place to invest in student property and student buy to let before prices rise. 

How to Invest in Birmingham Student Property? 

Like every major student city, those thinking of buying a Birmingham student investment property have two main options to consider: 

1. Purpose-built student accommodation 

2.A student HMO 

Both of these options can be good choices, but likely the preferred method of making a student property investment in Birmingham is through purpose-built student accommodation. 

More students are opting for a modern living experience in 2023 that traditionally older HMO houses simply can’t provide. 

Moreover, HMOs can be particularly troubling for beginner property investors, with many rules and regulations, including a new Article 4 planning direction that means investors need planning permission to convert houses to HMOs. 

Also, student accommodation costs less than HMOs, making it a more budget-friendly option for investors. 

It can be more complicated than this, though, so be sure to read our guide on investing in student property in 2023 for a complete list of pros and cons.  

Best Areas to Invest in Birmingham Best Areas to Invest in Birmingham

Where to Invest in Birmingham Student Property?  

So, now that you know how to make a student investment property Birmingham purchase, it’s time to think about where to invest. 

Unfortunately for investors, not every area of Birmingham offers the same investment potential, with variations in house prices, rent trends, and rental demand. 

Currently, the best areas for investing in Birmingham student property are: 

  1. Birmingham city centre 
  2. Edgbaston 
  3. Selly Oak 
  4. Harborne 
  5. Bournbrook 
  6. Kings Heath 

These areas are close to university campuses, have a tonne of accommodation, and are ideally located near pubs, eateries, coffee shops, and supermarkets – perfect for the modern student tenant. 

Student Property Investment Birmingham FAQs

If you’re asking, “is Birmingham a good place to invest in property?” then yes, the city is a top choice for UK investors in 2023. Investment property is affordable in Birmingham, with the eighth highest rental yield in the UK. 

You can learn more by reading our guide to Birmingham property investment or the best places to invest in property UK. 

Yes, student accommodation is a good investment in 2023. This is because student property is more affordable than residential property while offering higher rental yields. However, student accommodation offers less capital growth potential, so it is more suited to income-focused property investors. 

Birmingham is an affordable city for students. You can find student halls in Birmingham that cost around £75 to £195 per week, compared to £160 to £250 in London. 

The cost of living is also lower in Birmingham than in London, with Numbeo finding that consumer prices in Birmingham, including rent, are 36.03% lower than the capital. 

The most popular places for students to live in Birmingham are Selly Oak, Edgbaston, Kings Heath, and the city centre. They’re ideally located to major campuses for the University of Birmingham and Aston University and close to pubs, restaurants, and shopping hotspots. 

Is Birmingham a Good Place to Invest in Property?

If you’re asking, “is Birmingham a good place to invest in property?” then yes, the city is a top choice for UK investors in 2023. Investment property is affordable in Birmingham, with the eighth highest rental yield in the UK. 

You can learn more by reading our guide to Birmingham property investment or the best places to invest in property UK. 

Is Student Accommodation a Good Investment UK?

Yes, student accommodation is a good investment in 2023. This is because student property is more affordable than residential property while offering higher rental yields. However, student accommodation offers less capital growth potential, so it is more suited to income-focused property investors. 

Is Birmingham Affordable for Students?

Birmingham is an affordable city for students. You can find student halls in Birmingham that cost around £75 to £195 per week, compared to £160 to £250 in London. 

The cost of living is also lower in Birmingham than in London, with Numbeo finding that consumer prices in Birmingham, including rent, are 36.03% lower than the capital. 

Where Do Students Live in Birmingham?

The most popular places for students to live in Birmingham are Selly Oak, Edgbaston, Kings Heath, and the city centre. They’re ideally located to major campuses for the University of Birmingham and Aston University and close to pubs, restaurants, and shopping hotspots. 

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Buy Student Accommodation With RWinvest 

Are you looking for your next Birmingham investment opportunity? 

Then RWinvest is the company for you. 

We are a property investment company with over 18 years of experience in residential and student property. 

With world-class investments in top cities like Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham, and London, you can find luxury student accommodation available for as low as £59,995.  

Chat to one of our agents today to learn more about the latest Birmingham student investment property. 

To learn more about the world of investing, be sure to check out our property investment news for the latest guides. Read our other student buy to let areas guide on the benefits of Nottingham student property investment

Daniel Williams
Daniel Williams
Senior Property Writer

Daniel Williams is a senior property writer at RWinvest. Regularly publishing in-depth articles on topics such as the best investment areas in the UK and guides on how to invest, Daniel has a keen eye for statistics and analysing property market changes. 

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