Essential Facilities to Attract Students to Your Accommodation

Tenants have various accommodation options to choose from. If you want your student accommodation to be fully booked, you need to offer certain facilities. 

Student facilities are critical to a student's academic success. These amenities can also enhance personal well-being and the overall college experience. For example, Parcel Tracker can automate package management solutions for student accommodation, helping your student housing achieve efficiency and optimize parcel security.  

This blog post covers the facilities that student accommodation should have and why they matter.

Students gathered at the dining table.

Study Areas

University accommodation must offer study areas with high-speed WiFi and dedicated quiet areas. 

High-Speed WiFi

A strong and reliable internet connection is vital. Students need high-speed WiFi to complete assignments, conduct research, communicate and enjoy downtime. 

Housing managers should use reputable internet connection providers that offer reliable, high-quality internet. Managers may focus on cost, but a solution with minimal connectivity problems is more important. 

Dedicated Study Spaces

Study spaces provide students with a quiet and comfortable place to focus on academic tasks. They can also be used to collaborate in group work with minimal distractions. Study spaces must offer modern technology, including high-quality computers, printers and high-speed WiFi.

Managers must create these designated areas to give students the necessary campus facilities. Without them, students have to study elsewhere, making it challenging to sell accommodation.

Three students collaborating at the table.

Residential Facilities

Student accommodation needs comfortable residential amenities, such as spacious rooms, dining halls, laundry rooms, shared spaces, and parcel management solutions. 

Dining Halls

Nutritious and affordable food options help students maintain health and energy levels. Student houses must have dining halls that offer a variety of meals and cater to different dietary requirements and preferences. 

While not all student houses have the space for large dining halls, they can optimize the layout to reduce traffic. 

Laundry Rooms

Tenants searching for suitable accommodation want housing that can provide laundry facilities on-site, whether self-service or managed by the accommodation provider. 

On-premise laundry is more convenient for students, as they won't have to pay for laundry services or travel to the laundromat. 

Common Rooms and Lounges

Academic life can become overwhelming and tiring. Common rooms and student lounges allow tenants to relax, socialize, and create friendships, which is critical for their mental and social well-being.

These shared spaces also support recreational activities among students and improve morale. Tenants will have a much better living experience with a designated space to unwind and interact with peers.

Student house managers could consider recreational areas such as:

  • Cinema rooms
  • Gyms
  • Games rooms
  • Outdoor spaces 

Parcel Management

A critical aspect of residential facilities in student housing is parcel management. With high volumes of incoming and outgoing parcels, it's crucial to establish an automated parcel management system. Parcel Tracker helps student accommodations manage parcels with optimized security features. 

Our software sends automated notifications that allow recipients to track their packages in detail for efficient parcel collection. This ensures the right recipient collects the correct package every time. 

Parcel Tracker offers several key features to improve student accommodation parcel management:

Parcel boxes running on the conveyor belt.

Spacious Rooms

Student accommodation needs spacious, well-laid-out rooms so that students are comfortable and have enough storage space for their belongings.

The rooms must also have an aesthetically pleasing design - this helps marketing efforts and attracts more students. 

A few features that are critical for rooms in student accommodation include:

  • Charging ports and electrical inputs
  • Sturdy bed frames
  • Comfortable mattresses 
  • Storage space
  • Desks

Technology 

Student accommodation must offer the best technology solutions, including software for automated parcel tracking and student support.

Parcel Tracking

Parcel tracking technologies are imperative. These solutions help students receive and send packages with minimal friction. Student houses must choose the right software, such as Parcel Tracker. 

Abodu used Parcel Tracker to optimize package management. Another example is Student Roost, which needed to stop lost and misplaced packages, digitize manual and paper-based parcel tracking, and optimize storage space. Parcel Tracker helped Student Roost improve package tracking for over 10,000 recipients by;

  • Reducing manual operations, 
  • Improving accountability to prevent lost packages
  • Optimizing communication between students and mailroom staff. 

Student Support 

Student houses must invest in technology to track and report on tech-related issues – and offer prompt, reliable support. Managing hundreds of support emails can be inefficient and overwhelming. The best solution is a ticketing system and automated support.

Student support software frees up admin time and provides insights to improve the living experience. These platforms track support tickets in real-time and send alerts for overdue issues to help managers handle student communication and maintenance. 

Fitness Centers

Physical fitness improves mental health and, in turn, academic performance. Fitness facilities provide an area for physical activity, socialization and peer support in student houses.

There are various fitness centers for student accommodation, including:

  • Gyms and cardio equipment
  • Sport courts
  • Yoga classes
  • Swimming pools

Security

Safety is a top priority for students and their families. Investing in comprehensive security systems, including surveillance cameras, secure entry points, and emergency alert systems, is vital to protect tenants, 

Students must have peace of mind knowing their safety is a concern for housing managers. 

They shouldn't have to fear stolen belongings or an unsafe environment. Universities must establish a safety protocol for emergencies and educate tenants on this. They should also encourage students to turn off appliances when not in use. 

Why These Facilities Matter

Having the critical amenities helps tenants achieve academic success and positive well-being and encourages community engagement and inclusivity.

Enhancing Academic Success

Investing in the right student accommodation facilities helps enhance academic success. 

If students are comfortable and have the resources they need, it will be easier for them to focus on their academics. Encouraging socialization helps students resort to peer support and collaborate in groups, which will enhance their academic journey while establishing a community.

4 students colaborating

Promoting Wellbeing and Health

Mental health and well-being are critical because of the pressure students face. 

Student houses can help tenants maintain a healthy lifestyle and offer services to address mental health issues. For example, student managers could recommend counselors and activities for students who need support.

Supporting Career Development

Career development resources, such as books and informational materials, can guide students to professional growth and ensure they are well-prepared and informed for the job market. 

Student houses should promote career services like webinars, workshops, and conventions. 

Inclusivity and Accessibility

The facilities we mentioned promote inclusivity and accessibility for all students. They help develop and grow a thriving community, give students resources and spaces to access what they need for personal and academic growth, and encourage peer relationships and collaboration. 

Student houses must promote university-inclusive and accessibility services. These could be financial aid offices and international student services. 

Don't Overlook These Key Facilities

Student accommodation must invest in facilities to support students' future success and well-being. A successful student accommodation has dedicated study areas, residential facilities, technology, fitness centers, and high-level security.

Solutions like Parcel Tracker can automate parcel management in student housing to increase mailroom efficiency and parcel security and enhance the living experience.

Ready to streamline your student accommodation parcel management? Speak to our team today and find the best price for your package management needs. 

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