Cardiff

City Heights is situated in the heart of Cardiff's vibrant student life. Offering modern and comfortable student accommodation within a community-focused living experience. The property is conveniently located near the university, dining, shopping and nightlife.

Upward view of a modern multi-story building with red brick and white panel sections, featuring large windows reflecting the blue sky with scattered clouds.
Interior of a warmly lit restaurant with brown and green cushioned seating, wooden tables, hanging woven lamps, and a mural depicting people and palm trees on the far wall, with large windows on the right showing a street view outside.
Modern seating area with three velvet sofas—two dark green and one mustard yellow—arranged around a rectangular wooden coffee table, beside large windows with frosted lower panels and a potted plant.
Rooftop patio with two wooden picnic tables, a wicker sofa, and ornamental plants, overlooking a cityscape under a partly cloudy sky.

Investment Summary

Freehold

The property is freehold in title.

Unit Mix

146 bed spaces, comprising 100% studios.

Amenities

Gym, games room, study area, lounge space, roof terrace, outdoor garden and bbq space.

Location

Convenient access to Cardiff University, Cardiff Metropolitan University and the University of South Wales campuses.

Property Description

City Heights was built in 2019. The asset provides 146 studio beds. Amenities include a gym, games room, study area, lounge space, outdoor garden and a roof terrace.

The property is arranged over a ground and eight upper floors. There is a large provision of cycle storage in the secure courtyard.

Cozy cafe interior with tufted green velvet booth seating arranged along large windows, wooden floors, and warm woven pendant lights hanging from the ceiling decorated with greenery.
Outdoor courtyard of a modern residential building complex featuring white and red brick facades with multiple windows, a bike rack with several bicycles, a wooden picnic table, and green shrubs under a cloudy sky.
View of a residential neighborhood with houses and buildings under a partly cloudy sky, with solar panels installed on a flat rooftop in the foreground.
Modern bedroom with a double bed covered by a yellow quilt, three decorative pillows, wooden headboard, matching bedside tables, wall-mounted reading lights, open wooden shelf above the bed with vases and plants, and a wooden wardrobe on the right.

Hear from Riya

“My room is super spacious and I love

the view. There’s also a great roof

terrace for when the weather is nice!”

Smiling woman with long dark hair wearing a light-colored floral top against a plain light background.

Reversionary
Potential

A variety of value-add opportunities have been identified and can be undertaken at City Heights to drive rental reversion and asset performance. Full details to be found in the data room.

Access Data Room
Bright living room with a red armchair, a patterned red and white sofa with red cushions, a round black coffee table with wooden legs, and a large window with beige curtains showing an orange building outside. A light wood dining table with transparent chairs and decorative vases on a brass tray is in the foreground. The room features light wood flooring, white walls, and a white cabinet with framed colorful art above it next to a floor lamp. The kitchen area has beige cabinets and a built-in oven.

Market Commentary

Supply

The supply of Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) in Cardiff comprises both university-owned and privately managed facilities. Currently, the total supply constitutes c.16,100 PBSA beds. The largest PBSA providers include Unite Students, holding a 36% market share, followed by CRM Students and Collegiate AC with 16% and 13% respectively​​.

Urban plaza with modern glass and concrete buildings under a clear blue sky, a few people walking, and a red construction lift on the left side.
Pipeline

The development pipeline for Cardiff includes a few significant projects, including the Greyfriars Road development, which is expected to deliver 600 beds by 2026. The broader pipeline stands at c.1,287 beds, all currently in various stages of planning and approval​​. Notably, Vita recently completed a 401-bed development on Park Place.

Demand

Cardiff is home to approximately 46,605 full-time students, creating a high demand for student accommodation. The current PBSA provisions are not sufficient to meet this demand, resulting in a significant percentage of students unable to access PBSA. Specifically, with Cardiff's PBSA supply at around 16,000 beds, nearly 66% of students lack access to dedicated student accommodation​​​​.

Four young adults sitting together at a wooden table, engaging in conversation and using a tablet and laptop, with coffee cups nearby, in a casual indoor setting with a white brick wall background.
46,605

Total Students

36,165

Domestic Students

10,440

International Students

Universities

Cardiff is home to six prestigious universities, conservatoires and colleges, together offering a range of courses, campuses and experiences. These include the University of Cardiff - a prestigious Russell Group and one of the top 200 universities in the world, Cardiff Metropolitan University, University of South Wales, Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, Cardiff and Vale College (including its new £45m city centre campus) as well as the University of Wales and Trinity St David.

City Heights enjoys close proximity to all of the city's universities and colleges. Its central position ensures convenient access to Cardiff University, Cardiff Metropolitan University and the University of South Wales campuses. With several bus stops nearby and well-established public transportation routes, commuting is hassle-free. Whether by bus, foot, or bike, City Heights offers an ideal base for students looking to access Cardiff's vibrant academic scene.

The lifestyle of
Cardiff

As the Welsh capital, Cardiff plays host to a wide variety of events. From major sporting fixtures such as the UEFA Champions League Final, Six Nations Rugby, Championship Boxing and WWE (arriving this September); to major theatre productions, big-name touring comedy acts and musicians. Top this off with a variety of quirkier events such as music concerts at Cardiff Castle, street food festivals, pop-ups, and secret cinemas and you’ll find that there’s always something going on here. Cardiff’s big city attitude combined with its small city benefits make it the ideal place to live, work and study.

Music and Arts

Cardiff has a thriving music scene. The Motorpoint Arena, Principality Stadium and St David’s Hall host all the big-name tours, while medium-sized venues like Tramshed and The Globe host a range of artists. Smaller independent venues like Acapela Studios, Clwb Ifor Bach and the Students’ Union bars are home to more intimate music nights. If film is your thing, Cardiff is home to many multiplex movie theatres and a handful of pop-up cinemas, which hold screenings in venues like Cardiff Castle and even rooftops and basements around the city. For drama and musical fans, the iconic Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff Bay is a world-famous theatre and arts venue and at Chapter Arts Centre in Canton you’ll find a cinema, contemporary theatre, bar and café all rolled into one.

Staying active

Cardiff has lots of green spaces. Bute Park (the green heart of the city), right next to Cardiff Castle, is probably the most well-known. Roath Park was one of the city’s first public parks and is famous for its 30-acre boating lake. Cardiff International White Water is the only facility of its kind in South Wales with great courses for rafting, tubing and paddle boarding, as well as an air trail and climbing wall. Cardiff Bay Water Activity Centre offers lessons in sailing, windsurfing, rowing and sculling, plus archery.

Sports

Cardiff has an incredible sporting heritage. Students can spend their weekends watching football at the Cardiff City Stadium, international cricket at Sophia Gardens, ice hockey with the Cardiff Devils in Cardiff Bay and of course, international rugby at the Principality Stadium. The Cardiff 10k and Half Marathon also run every year, with a full marathon just a stone’s throw away in Newport.

Nightlife

Cardiff offers a variety of exciting student nights to cater to different tastes and preferences. Whether it’s themed nights, live music, or simply an opportunity to dance the night away, Cardiff has something for everyone. Try Wonky Wednesdays at Retros or POW! at Pulse, Cardiff’s longest running student night.

Curved metallic building facade with large cutout letters beside a paved open plaza leading to a red brick clock tower building and a Ferris wheel under a partly cloudy blue sky.
Three people wearing helmets and wetsuits enthusiastically rafting on white water in an inflatable boat, with waves splashing around them and a modern building in the background.
Large modern stadium with a distinctive tall white triangular support structure and blue and red exterior panels under a clear blue sky.
A small round table with a translucent bottle holding a pink rose and baby's breath, a lit candle in a glass jar, a decorative wine glass, and two empty glass bottles in a dimly lit outdoor café or restaurant setting with blurred background of other tables, lights, and a person walking.

Distance & travel times

Cardiff University Main Building
Cathays Park Campus
Cardiff University Engineering Building
Maindy Park Campus
Cardiff University
Heath Park Campus
Cardiff City Centre
Cardiff Castle or Cardiff Central Station
Walking
By Bike
By Bus
20 min
10 min
15 min
Walking
By Bike
By Bus
30 min
15 min
15 min
Walking
By Bike
By Bus
45 min
25 min
15 min
Walking
By Bike
By Bus
20 min
10 min
15 min

Accommodation Schedule

Room Type
No. Units
Club Studio
6
Club Plus Studio
3
Deluxe Studio
7
Deluxe Plus Studio
5
Deluxe Plus Studio
60
Premium Studio
18
Deluxe View Studio
12
Superior Studio
4
Deluxe One Bed
4
Deluxe View One Bed
7
Premium One Bed
7
Premium View One Bed
2
Superior One Bed
5
Penthouse
1
Total
146

AY 24/25 Income summary and projected NOI

£1,845,512

Gross Operating Income
(Assumes 98% Occupancy)

£543,622

Operational Expenditure

£1,301,890

Net Operating Income

Rental Comparables

Room Type
Rents from (2024/2025)
Weekly Term
Twodio
£190
51
Standard Studio
£225
51
Standard Gold Studio
£233
51
Premium Studio
£239
51
Premium Gold Studio
£245
51
Room Type
Rents from (2024/2025)
Weekly Term
Standard Studio
£190
51
Standard Studio Plus
£195
51
Premium Studio
£207
51
Club Studio
£215
51
Platinum Studio
£250
51
Superior Studio Plus
£230
51
Room Type
Rents from (2024/2025)
Weekly Term
Standard Studio
£239
51
Standard Studio Plus
£254
51
Premium Studio
£269
51
Large Studio
£279
51
Extra Large Studio
£294
51
Platinum 1 Bed Apartment
£414
51

Discover the other properties

Dover Street

Leicester 
110 En Suite
25 Studio 
135 Total Beds
View property
Modern multi-story building with red brick and green facade panels against a partly cloudy blue sky, surrounded by other brick buildings.

Goods Corner

Edinburgh
106 Studio
2 Two-Bed Apartment
108 Total Beds
View property
Modern residential building with beige walls and wooden panel accents, surrounding a courtyard with green artificial grass and paved walkways under a partly cloudy sky.

The Union

Royal Leamington Spa
157 En Suite
30 Studio
187 Total Beds
View property
Long brick building on the left with many tall windows alongside a gravel path, bordered by a narrow canal on the right and greenery under a partly cloudy blue sky.

Exeter One

Exeter
112 En Suite
107 Studio
219 Total Beds
View property
A modern building with a mix of white paneling and red brick exterior, featuring multiple windows and an entrance canopy; surrounded by greenery and a small tree on a sunny day.