UK student property getting popular in Malaysia

March 18, 2016, Friday

London Spring Place is a new purpose-built student housing project comprising 386 fully managed en-suite rooms and self-contained studio suites.

KUALA LUMPUR: Cornerstone International Properties has launched the second phase of the London Spring Place (LSP) project in Malaysia following the sell-out launch of Phase 1 in Malaysia in 2015. London Spring Place is a purpose built student accommodation in the UK.

In a press statement to The Borneo Post yesterday, it stated that Phase 1 of LSP, which sold out within months, was a runaway success in Malaysia, a sign that more Malaysians are seeing the viability and benefit of investing in UK student property, especially in light of the ringgit volatility and local and global economic uncertainty.

“Traditionally reserved for institutional investors, UK student property is now open to individual and private investors and has grown in popularity in Malaysia,” said Cornerstone International Properties director Virata Thaivasigamony.

“We are firm believers in this investment type as it has proven to be recession-proof and the strongest performing asset class in the UK with annual nett yields as high as 8 per cent, superseding the meagre 4 per cent and 2.5 per cent gross yields from residential rental projects in Kuala Lumpur and London, respectively,” said Virata, citing Felda’s investment in a student property in the UK in 2015 in a move to diversify assets.

“We saw a sharp increase in our UK student property sales numbers compared to residential property in Malaysia. In 2015 alone, 73 per cent of our inventory sold to Malaysians was UK student property. Our top-selling student property project, London Spring Place (Phase 1) which was extremely popular among Malaysian investors, sold out last year.

“In fact, Cornerstone International Properties sold an impressive 80 student units for the developer of London Spring Place alone! We just launched Phase 2 early this month and the take up rate has been extremely positive.”

Cornerstone International Properties is the exclusive marketing agent for LSP in Malaysia. LSP units come furnished with a fully equipped gym, cinema room, communal study and games rooms, onsite laundry, and high-speed WiFi in every room.

The popularity of UK student property is largely attributed to its strong performance, the strongest performing asset class in the UK since 2011, surpassing all other property asset types, according to Knight Frank. The risks are low as there is an acute undersupply of purpose built student accommodation in the UK. Default in rent is rare as a result of parental guarantee, thus investors are assured of regular and timely rental returns.

Malaysians investing in UK student property are excused from capital gains tax in addition to relief from rental income tax.
The London Spring Place Phase 2 roadshow will be in Sabah and Sarawak from 10am – 7pm this Saturday and Sunday (March 19 & 20), at Le Meridian Hotel Kota Kinabalu, Sabah; Pullman Hotel in Kuching, Sarawak; and RH Hotel in Sibu, Sarawak. For details call 016-228 9150 or 016- 228 8691.

Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2016/03/18/uk-student-property-getting-popular-in-malaysia/#ixzz43iDL4ulZ