Flexible Living Isn't Just Short Stay Anymore - Why It Should Be a Strategic Decision, not a Plan B - a Lavanda Special

For this week's episode, Deenie Lee and Dan Smith sat down with Fred-Lerche Lerchenborg, CEO of Lavanda to discuss one of the biggest shifts happening in student accommodation right now – term-time short and mid-length stays. Term-time short stays are moving from a summer bolt-on to a core PBSA strategy, and the data shows the biggest demand isn’t “commuter students” but longer 30-day to 4-month stays. We break down what’s driving it, why it’s city-specific, and what operators and investors can do now to pilot flex without creating operational chaos.We unpack some really interesting data and trends from across the market, including:- The growing rise of 30+ day stays during term-time, reshaping traditional short-let demand patterns- How a surprisingly small proportion of bookings are actually driving the majority of commercial performance- Why performance varies so significantly by city — and what that means for scaling (and why a “one-size-fits-all” national strategy doesn’t hold up!)PLUS we answer some of the big strategic questions for the sector, including:Are flexible stays being treated as strategy… or just a fallback?Are buildings actually designed for 30–60 night stays?And is technology holding the sector back?If today's episode got you thinking, and we really hope it did, please do share it with someone else in the sector who needs to hear it.https://www.getlavanda.com/insights/30-day-student-stays-long-stay-flexible-student-accommodation-is-growing-faster-than-anyone-expected/https://www.getlavanda.com/insights/the-10-that-matters-most-which-are-your-most-profitable-term-time-bookings/https://www.getlavanda.com/insights/same-programme-different-economics-how-term-time-short-stay-demand-varies-by-city/Who this episode is for:PBSA and student accommodation professionalsBTR, co-living and rental operatorsProperty developers and investorsUniversity and higher education leadersAnyone working in or around housing policy and shared livingThe views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of their employers, organisations, clients, or partners. This podcast is for general discussion and informational purposes only. Nothing said should be taken as professional, legal, financial, or investment advice. While we aim to be accurate, we make no guarantees and accept no liability for decisions made based on the content of this podcast. This was a jointly sponsored podcast.