Spain has 5.5 displaced students per student accommodation bed

Spain’s student accommodation market enters the 2026/27 academic year with 123,120 operational beds across 907 residences, compared with 677,390 students in need of accommodation. Despite 41.6% growth since 2021, the gap remains structural, with 5.5 displaced students per available bed. Even full delivery of the identified pipeline would only reduce the ratio to 4.75x by 2029.

The report highlights growing opportunities in mid-sized university cities, where provision remains more limited. While Madrid, Seville and Salamanca show stronger provision levels, Jaén, Córdoba and Almería record between 17 and 21 students per bed.

Investment also reached a record €1.755 billion in 2025, while prime yields compressed to 4.4%-4.5%.

The study provides detailed data on 90 university municipalities, 21 openings, 96 identified projects, operator rankings and transactions since 2023, offering a comprehensive view of the sector’s development and investment opportunities.