Unite Group, a leading student accommodation provider, is moving to restructure its portfolio by selling between 15,000 and 20,000 of its 72,000 beds as it navigates challenging market conditions. The company aims to complete disposals valued between £300 million and £400 million in 2026, having achieved £130 million in sales so far this year.

The decision to sell assets comes amid a buyer’s market, requiring a pragmatic approach to pricing, according to the company. Proceeds from the disposals are intended to strengthen Unite’s balance sheet, support its development pipeline, and potentially fund further share buybacks.

Unite reported a decline in the value of its portfolio by 6 percent during the first half of 2026, bringing the total portfolio value to £6.73 billion. This reduction was a significant factor in the company’s reported pre-tax loss of £417 million for the period.

In response to market pressures, Unite has revised downward its rental growth outlook for the 2026/27 academic year, adjusting its guidance from a previous range by one percentage point to between 1 and 2 percent. The company has also implemented price reductions in certain cities where demand has softened to maintain occupancy levels.

Despite these challenges, Unite continues to offer a 7 percent dividend yield. The combination of dividends and potential returns from share buybacks may provide some appeal to investors, though risk-reward opportunities appear more favorable in other segments of the student accommodation market.