Landlord may not fill student digs

A STUDENT landlord has cautioned that fewer Chinese students staying in UK cities means it may not fill its rooms in the year ahead.

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Empiric, which operates student accommodation across the UK, said “geopolitical events” may be behind the decline.

The company said it had reached an 89% occupancy rate for the 2025-26 academic year, pending January sales.

This figure compared with a 95% rate at the same time last year, with bookings slowing compared to record levels over recent years.