Renting a private flat in central London in 2026 costs north of £2,500 per month. Over a three year degree, that’s £90,000 and at the end of it, you own nothing.
It is a calculation that more and more international families are doing quietly, often before their child has even accepted a place. And increasingly, the answer they arrive at is the same: buying a London property for the duration of a degree is not just financially defensible; for the right buyer, it is the more rational decision.
The case for buying
If well look at this from a maths point of view. At £2,500 to £3,000 per month for a private flat in a good location and near a central London university, a family renting over three years will spend somewhere between £90,000 and £108,000. That figure covers no stamp duty, no legal fees, and carries no asset value whatsoever at the end of it.
A well chosen property purchased in the same price range as a quality rental, say, from £587,000 in a Berkeley development, provides a London base during the degree, the potential for rental income of around £2,800 per month if the child moves on or studies elsewhere for a period, and an asset that continues to work long after graduation.
London residential property has historically demonstrated long term capital appreciation, particularly in well connected, supply constrained zones. Buying is not a guaranteed return. But it is a structured alternative to spending six figures on accommodation and ending the degree with nothing.
Camden Goods Yard: a practical example
One development we are currently offering for sale is The Gallery at Camden Goods Yard, a Berkeley Group development completing this August, ahead of the new academic year.
It sits in one of London’s most energetic neighbourhoods, with direct Underground access placing UCL seven minutes away. King’s College London, the London School of Economics, and the Courtauld Institute of Art are all within straightforward reach. For families whose children are studying at any of these institutions, the location is perfect.
The development has been designed with both lifestyle and longevity in mind. Residents have access to a beautiful rooftop terrace and restaurant with city views, a residents’ gym, and a ground floor Morrisons supermarket for everyday convenience. These are not amenities that inflate a price artificially, they are the features that make a property lettable and desirable long after a degree is done.
Manhattan apartments start from £587,000, with an estimated rental yield of 5.7% (figures provided by Johns & Co as an indication only). For those requiring more space, one, two, and three bedroom homes are also available within the development.
What to consider before committing
Buying a London property for university is not the right decision for every family. There are costs beyond the purchase price, such as stamp duty, solicitor fees, service charge, and ongoing management if the property is let at any point. There is also the question of whether your child will remain in London for the full duration of their course, or whether plans might change.
What Blackmore Global offers is an independent view. We have no interest in pushing a transaction that does not make sense for a client. What we do have is 23 years of London property experience, direct relationships with the developers behind the city’s leading new homes schemes, and the ability to advise across the full picture, not just the sale.
If you are considering this for September, now is the time to have the conversation. Completions at The Gallery begin in August. Once those homes are gone, the window closes.
Get in touch
To discuss whether buying for university makes sense for your family, or to receive full details on Camden Goods Yard, contact Blackmore Global directly at sales@blackmore.global or visit blackmore.global.
Estimated rental figures are provided by Johns & Co and are indicative only. Property values can fall as well as rise. This article does not constitute financial advice.
