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China is one of the most misunderstood markets for student housing, BTR, universities and the wider rental living sectors - we wanted to bust some of the myths surrounding this market and, in true Housed style, dig deeper and get some practical takeaways to share with the sector.

We learnt so much from this conversation with Sam Rason, CEO of VIVA - Mini Programs and Gabriel Nicklin, Managing Partner of TONG Global and are pretty sure our listeners will feel the same.

This episode covers:
- Why China is different?
- WeChat, platforms and direct engagement
- Marketplaces and the 'convenience trap'
- Direct vs Marketplaces
- How to practically build a direct China strategy
- What the future looks like for this sector

A big thanks to Sam and Gabriel for joining us, we felt that we only just scratched the surface of this topic - if you do have any further questions please get in touch with Sam or Gabriel directly.

And if there any other hot topics you would like us to cover on Housed - please do get in touch.

Stay up to date on Housed podcast via its LinkedIn page.

Dan Smith is Founder of RESI Consultancy and Co-Founder of Verbaflo.AI.

Sarah Canning and Deenie Lee are Directors and Co-Founders of The Property Marketing Strategists - Elevating Marketing in Property.

Thank you to our season four sponsors:
Mystudenthalls.com - Reach thousands of students searching every month with 0% commission student accommodation listings.

Utopi - The smart building platform helping real estate owners protect the value of their assets.

Washstation - Leading provider of laundry solutions for Communal and Campus living throughout the UK and Ireland.

Howden - With a lifetime of expertise, Howden provides tailored insurance, property risk management, and wellbeing solutions for accommodation providers across the UK.

Who this episode is for:

• PBSA and student accommodation professionals
• BTR, co-living and rental operators
• Property developers and investors
• University and higher education leaders
• Anyone working in or around housing policy and shared living

Send us a text

We recorded this week's episode of Housed at Distorted podcast studio.

Listen to hear our views and thoughts on some of the latest news from the world of shared living and more importantly to find out whether Dan Smith actually read this week's show notes...??

Here's what we are discussing:
- How do we design rental homes that people can actually afford to love? We dig into Unite’s decision to defer two major schemes, and why we think this is a positive move in the right direction.
- Is this Build to Rents 'time to shine'? Why Build to Rent still has an upside if operators pivot from flashy amenities to daily utility.
- We question studio-heavy schemes and we think they breed transience. Mix it up: larger studios, shared apartments, layouts that support longer stays and real community.
- We break down Ireland’s rental reforms - rent caps may feel appealing, but they risk choking supply at a time when housing shortages are acute. Why The UK’s Renters’ Rights Act could learn from this cautionary tale.

You can also watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/mcSWsTvBQ2E

Stay up to date on Housed podcast via its LinkedIn page.

Dan Smith is Founder of RESI Consultancy and Co-Founder of Verbaflo.AI Good Management.

Sarah Canning and Deenie Lee are Directors and Co-Founders of The Property Marketing Strategists - Elevating Marketing in Property.

Thank you to our season four sponsors:
Mystudenthalls.com - Reach thousands of students searching every month with 0% commission student accommodation listings.

Utopi - The smart building platform helping real estate owners protect the value of their assets.

Washstation - Leading provider of laundry solutions for Communal and Campus living throughout the UK and Ireland.

Howden - With a lifetime of expertise, Howden provides tailored insurance, property risk management, and wellbeing solutions for accommodation providers across the UK.

Who this episode is for:

• PBSA and student accommodation professionals
• BTR, co-living and rental operators
• Property developers and investors
• University and higher education leaders
• Anyone working in or around housing policy and shared living

Send us a text

In this episode, Sarah Canning, Deenie Lee and Dan Smith look ahead to what 2026 will really mean for shared living — across PBSA, Build to Rent, co-living, university accommodation and later living.

We are sharing our predictions for this year:
- Where PBSA is likely to feel pressure — and where it will thrive
- How BTR continues to evolve as a mainstream rental product
- Why co-living’s growth will be quieter, but more meaningful
- What ongoing financial stress in higher education means for university accommodation
- Why rented later living remains one of the biggest long-term opportunities in housing

Stay up to date on Housed podcast via its LinkedIn page.

Dan Smith is Founder of RESI Consultancy and Co-Founder of Verbaflo.AI Good Management.

Sarah Canning and Deenie Lee are Directors and Co-Founders of The Property Marketing Strategists - Elevating Marketing in Property.

Thank you to our season four sponsors:
Mystudenthalls.com - Reach thousands of students searching every month with 0% commission student accommodation listings.
Utopi - The smart building platform helping real estate owners protect the value of their assets.
Washstation - Leading provider of laundry solutions for Communal and Campus living throughout the UK and Ireland.

And our brand new sponsor:

Howden - With a lifetime of expertise, Howden provides tailored insurance, property risk management, and wellbeing solutions for accommodation providers across the UK.

Who this episode is for:

• PBSA and student accommodation professionals
• BTR, co-living and rental operators
• Property developers and investors
• University and higher education leaders
• Anyone working in or around housing policy and shared living