What Happened in Student Housing: February 2026 Wrap-Up - SHI 1026

🎙️ Episode Summary: Wes Deese and Gretta Dare wrap up all the off-campus student housing news for February 2026. They cover upcoming industry conferences and major shifts in property management, including LV Collective formally bringing their operations in-house. The hosts break down the latest pre-leasing data from Yardi Matrix, comparing it against other data sources and discussing the current dip in rent growth. The episode also dives into critical legislative updates, highlighting the bipartisan Housing for the 21st Century Act that recently passed the House , and features an in-depth debate on a controversial new lease renewal ordinance in College Park, Maryland.   ⏱️ Episode Timestamps: 00:02:09 - Welcome & Intro: An overview of the Student Housing Insight platform and the monthly Shop Talk webinar 00:02:45 - Upcoming Conferences: Previewing Interface Student Housing, Bisnow spring events, and Bonard's Canadian Student Housing Summit 00:05:35 - Industry News: The rise of "white label" management services and LV Collective launching an in-house property management platform 00:12:57 - Data & Pre-leasing: Analyzing Yardi Matrix's report showing 2026-2027 pre-leasing at 52.3% and a discussion on rent growth metrics 00:19:19 - Financial Markets: Good news from the Student Housing Business magazine about financial institutions opening money back up to the student sector 00:21:35 - Legislative Updates: Breaking down the Housing for the 21st Century Act (passed 390-9 in the House) and its implications for development 00:26:17 - Local Ordinance Debate: Deep dive into College Park, Maryland's new ordinance requiring landlords to wait 180 days before offering lease renewals 00:43:45 - Outro & Networking: Announcing the "Shop Talk Link Up" networking brunch happening at the Interface conference   💡Sponsor Spotlight: Move-in day is stressful enough, but our partners at studenthousingmattress.com (powered by Jamison Bedding) make sure missing mattresses are never part of the problem. They offer US-made mattresses that ship quickly anywhere in the lower 48 states, featuring the durable blue vinyl models the industry knows and trusts. Stay ready for move-in and visit: https://studenthousingmattress.com/   📎Sources & Links Mentioned Student Housing Insight: https://www.studenthousinginsight.com/events Student Housing Business: http://studenthousingbusiness.com Yardi Matrix Student Housing Marketing Report February 2026: https://www.yardimatrix.com/blog/student-housing-market-report/ Housing Legislation — A Rare Bipartisan Moment https://bipartisanpolicy.org/explainer/whats-in-the-housing-for-the-21st-century-act/ College ParkNews https://www.dcnewsnow.com/news/local-news/maryland/prince-georges-county/college-park-restricts-early-lease-renewal-offers-giving-renters-more-time-and-limiting-landlords/