Change of use sought for empty student flats

Managers of a student apartment block in Coventry have applied for a temporary change of use for flats where they cannot find student tenants.

Erec Estates has applied for all 79 units at Manor Park Court to have flexible use so they can be let out to other residents, if students cannot be found.

The company said the move would be for three years to sustain the business "in the hope the student market may recover".

The move would be "in order to increase the occupancy rates and ensure the operation remains viable", a letter said.

It said occupancy at Manor Park Court was low and not at a sustainable level.

The city centre scheme was built 15 years ago and includes 24 flats already rented on the open market.

Professionals looking for short-term lets are expected to stay in the serviced flats, and would have to stay for at least three nights, in order not to compete with hotels, and not be in the same apartments as students.

The letter said managers wanted to keep the block as student housing in the long-term.

Documents highlighted wider problems with the student housing market in Coventry.

Demand for purpose-built student accommodation had reduced since the scheme was built, and Brexit and Covid had seen numbers of international students attending UK universities fall.

However, the letter said: "The biggest issue in Coventry affecting student demand is oversupply."

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, which covers councils and other public service organisations.

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