Harrison Street Sells Bristol Student Housing Portfolio to Ottoway

Harrison Street has sold a 491-bed purpose-built student accommodation portfolio in Bristol, United Kingdom, to Ottoway Portfolio Holdings, the Chicago-based alternative investment firm announced March 3, 2026.

The portfolio comprises two adjacent properties — Print Hall, which opened in 2017, and Unity Street, delivered in 2019 — developed in partnership with joint venture partner Global Student Accommodation. The assets are located near the University of Bristol and the city center, offering studios and single en-suite bedrooms within cluster apartments along with premium amenities. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

A Strategic Addition for Ottoway

For Ottoway Portfolio Holdings, the transaction represents an expansion of its platform in what the firm described as a structurally undersupplied market.

"The acquisition of Print Hall and Unity Street represents a strategic addition to the Ottoway platform, delivering immediate scale in a structurally undersupplied market and enhancing the quality and resilience of the Fund's income profile," said Gareth George, Managing Director at Ottoway. "Bristol is one of the UK's most established university cities, underpinned by a prestigious academic institution, a growing student population, and persistent supply demand imbalance. This investment exemplifies our strategy of targeting well-located PBSA assets in academically strong cities, where we can generate durable cashflows and long-term value. As we continue to selectively deploy capital into core university markets, Ottoway is further cementing its position as a partner of choice for students and universities alike."

Harrison Street's Position in UK Student Housing

Harrison Street Asset Management manages over $108 billion in assets under management across infrastructure, real estate, and credit strategies.

"This transaction reflects the attractiveness of high-quality student housing as an asset class, and the continued global demand for alternative real estate in institutional-grade portfolios amid a more selective investment environment," said Paul Bashir, CEO-Europe Real Estate at Harrison Street Asset Management. "We are proud of the European business we have built and remain focused on sourcing opportunities that can generate durable value for our investors across market cycles."

Portfolio Details

Print Hall and Unity Street together total 491 beds across two adjacent buildings near the University of Bristol and Bristol city center. Print Hall opened in 2017 and Unity Street in 2019, both developed in partnership with Global Student Accommodation. The properties offer a mix of studio and single en-suite bedroom configurations within cluster apartments, along with premium amenity offerings. No street addresses for either property were disclosed in available sources. CBRE advised on the sale. No sale price, cap rate, or price-per-bed figures were disclosed.