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Latest Housed episode with special guest Jonathan Burridge, Co-Founder and CEO of Utopi.

Sarah, Dan and Deenie are joined by Jonathan to discuss digital solutions to sustainability in shared living, the key themes covered in this episode include:

Smart buildings aren't just collecting data—they're transforming how we live. In this compelling conversation with Jonathan Burridge, CEO and founder of Utopi, we explore the revolutionary intersection of technology, sustainability, and human behaviour in residential real estate.

From its inception in 2019, Utopi has evolved from a simple technology solution to a comprehensive platform that helps property owners and operators leverage data to drive meaningful change. Jonathan shares how their journey has been shaped by market realities, client feedback, and global events like COVID-19, resulting in a product that delivers tangible value in today's challenging property landscape.

The revelations about resident behaviour are particularly fascinating. Jonathan describes discovering a 1400% variation in energy consumption between identical studio apartments under the same conditions—a stark illustration of how human choices dramatically impact building performance. This data-driven approach has allowed Utopi to develop effective strategies for both passive controls and active engagement campaigns like "Progress to Pizza," which successfully motivated students to reduce their room temperatures.

We dive deep into the evolution of ESG from compliance exercise to value driver. As Jonathan explains, "Most of the money in the market is saying we want green assets," creating a compelling commercial case for sustainability investments. The discussion explores how high-performing sustainable buildings attract more capital, potentially commanding better prices while avoiding the "brown discount" applied to underperforming properties during transactions.

The conversation offers candid insights into the challenges of running a tech company in the traditionally slow-moving real estate sector—what Jonathan describes as "running a sprint while real estate runs a marathon." Yet despite these challenges, the fundamental case for smart building technology remains strong, particularly as energy markets face continued volatility and sustainability requirements intensify.

Ready to discover how smart building technology is reshaping the future of residential property? Listen now and learn how data is becoming the key to unlocking value for people, planet, and profit.

Thank you to our season four sponsors:
MyStudentHalls - Find your ideal student accommodation across the UK.
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.

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Stepping away from remote recording, the Housed - Shared Living Podcast team gathers in-person at a London studio to tackle pressing issues reshaping the shared accommodation landscape in Episode 63.

Following energetic feedback from their UKREiiF coverage, the hosts reveal ongoing conversations to create a dedicated hub for PBSA, BTR, and co-living sectors at future events. This grassroots initiative aims to address the significant representation gap, particularly for student accommodation, which currently receives minimal attention despite its market importance.

The conversation shifts to a groundbreaking development – the government's plan to implement Google DeepMind's Gemini model in planning departments by 2026. While this AI innovation promises to slash processing times by scanning hundreds of files in seconds, the team debates whether automation might inadvertently encourage cookie-cutter designs or even marginalize architectural input. Despite these concerns, they recognize AI's potential to free planning officers from administrative burdens and allow more focus on creative assessments.

Perhaps most revealing is their deep dive into HomeViews' latest Build to Rent report. Against conventional wisdom, residents overwhelmingly prioritise practical considerations – transport links, flexible tenancies, and responsive maintenance – far above luxury amenities like cinema rooms or games spaces. The data exposes a fundamental disconnect between what developers market and what genuinely drives satisfaction.

Most striking is the revelation about security perception. When 78% of young adults cite "stability and security" as their primary motivation for homeownership, it suggests BTR and PBSA sectors face a messaging challenge rather than a product problem. Residents simply aren't aware these accommodation types can provide the tenure security they crave.

The conversation concludes with a call for greater tenancy flexibility, noting universities already beginning to offer two-year agreements with frozen rents. As the podcast team heads off to continue their strategy session over lunch, they leave listeners with a challenge to reconsider what truly matters in shared living spaces: not bowling alleys and rooftop terraces, but the fundamental human needs for security, flexibility, and community.

What housing innovations would you like us to explore next? Share your thoughts and help shape future episodes.

Thank you to our season four sponsors:
MyStudentHalls - Find your ideal student accommodation across the UK.
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.

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Episode 62! And this week the hosts, Deenie, Sarah and Dan are discussing some of the content and themes from UKREiiF and all the shared living news from the last couple of weeks including:

- The highs and lows of UKREiiF

- Is PBSA less sexy than BTR and coliving?

- Is the night time economy considered when designing spaces?

- Will the UK see a bounce from international students rejecting (and being rejected by) the USA?

Thank you to our season four sponsors:
MyStudentHalls - Find your ideal student accommodation across the UK.
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.

Each week, Sarah Canning, Deenie Lee of The Property Marketing Strategists and Daniel Smith of RESI Consultancy will be delving into a wide variety of subjects and asking the questions that aren't often asked. This podcast is for anyone who works in Student Accommodation, BTR, Co-living, Later Living, university accommodation, Operational Real Estate or Shared Living.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are the personal views of the individual hosts and guests.

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We are on Episode 61 and this week the hosts, Deenie, Sarah and Dan are discussing some of the content and themes from the recent Student Housing Conference by LD Events.

The episode covers;
- Is agent data dangerous?
- PBSA headwinds
- Immigration mixed messages
- The complexities around hypermixity and where are real opportunities for growth?
- Immigration white paper
- Government's suspected plans for Youth Mobility as part of its UK/EU Summit

Thank you to our season four sponsors:
MyStudentHalls - Find your ideal student accommodation across the UK.
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.

Each week, Sarah Canning, Deenie Lee of The Property Marketing Strategists and Daniel Smith of RESI Consultancy will be delving into a wide variety of subjects and asking the questions that aren't often asked. This podcast is for anyone who works in Student Accommodation, BTR, Co-living, Later Living, university accommodation, Operational Real Estate or Shared Living.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are the personal views of the individual hosts and guests.

Send us a text

We are on Episode 60, and this week the hosts; Deenie, Dan and Sarah are discussing:
- The latest Youth Forum research on students and sustainability
- Recycling: are we going far enough?
- Key drivers for renters: is it cost or sustainability?
- All-inclusive bills: time we moved away from them?
- Industry awards: should you be entering them?
- The RESI Awards

PLUS this episode includes an exclusive interview with Gillian Mclees, Chair of the ARL Scottish Hub, on the Housing (Scotland) Bill.*

*The parliament committee concluded that PBSA's inclusion couldn't be removed by subsequent amendments. It is expectd to be voted down at stage 3, when all party leads (except The Green Party) confirmed there is no appetite to include PBSA. All parties gave speeches confirming this. An amendment to allow 28 days notice is being made to try and appease this under exceptional circumstances and to reflect industry best practice.

Thank you to our season four sponsors:
MyStudentHalls - Find your ideal student accommodation across the UK.
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.

Each week, Sarah Canning, Deenie Lee of The Property Marketing Strategists and Daniel Smith of RESI Consultancy will be delving into a wide variety of subjects and asking the questions that aren't often asked. This podcast is for anyone who works in Student Accommodation, BTR, Co-living, Later Living, university accommodation, Operational Real Estate or Shared Living.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are the personal views of the individual hosts and guests.

Send us a text

This week Deenie, Sarah & Dan are discussing:
- Changing management companies
- The Housing Hand report Understanding Renters in 2025
- Why we need to be educating renters
- The Renters Rights’ Bill
- Using AI for researching how to rent
- Addressing affordability
- Student Crowd data on PBSA stock in Glasgow.

Thank you to our season four sponsors:
MyStudentHalls - Find your ideal student accommodation across the UK.
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.

Each week, Sarah Canning, Deenie Lee of The Property Marketing Strategists and Daniel Smith of RESI Consultancy will be delving into a wide variety of subjects and asking the questions that aren't often asked. This podcast is for anyone who works in Student Accommodation, BTR, Co-living, Later Living, university accommodation, Operational Real Estate or Shared Living.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are the personal views of the individual hosts and guests.

Send us a text

Our latest episode kicks off with the hosts, Sarah, Dan and Deenie discussing listener feedback. With thanks to Tom Sutcliffe of Scape, Max Beilby from Vita Student and Aaron Bailey from Yugo for their input. Also, a big thank you to John Stotter-Marden from Washstation for providing us with facts and details on laundry facilities.

We love hearing from our listeners so please continue to send in your thoughts and feedback to hello@housedpodcast.com

The episode also covers;
• How thoughtful design elements can transform the twin room experience
• Sector terminology: what do we mean by three-quarter beds?
• Why laundry facilities are a critical accommodation feature
• Marketplace ethics and challenges
• Segregating different types of students
• Apprenticeship Housing: Opportunities and Concerns inspired by the WONKHE article

Plus Bhavini Patel from Howard Kennedy is back in our Ask the Expert feature to answer questions on The Building Safety Act specifically how the act will impact frontline ops staff - thanks to Laura Mathews from Epoch Rebel for her question.

Thank you to our season four sponsors:
MyStudentHalls - Find your ideal student accommodation across the UK.
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.

Each week, Sarah Canning, Deenie Lee of The Property Marketing Strategists and Daniel Smith of RESI Consultancy will be delving into a wide variety of subjects and asking the questions that aren't often asked. This podcast is for anyone who works in Student Accommodation, BTR, Co-living, Later Living, university accommodation, Operational Real Estate or Shared Living.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are the personal views of the individual hosts and guests.

Send us a text

This episode of Housed covers:
- Why twin rooms are rarely seen in PBSA?
- What a dual occupancy studio really means and why developers are building single occupancy coliving schemes
- Does the PBSA booking season look rosy?
- The conflict between investors and operators when it comes to positivity vs realism
- Dan is desperate to discuss the latest controversy with marketplaces

Plus Hollie Jordan-Wright from Howard Kennedy is back in our Ask the Expert feature to answer questions on The Renters' Rights Bill.

Thank you to our season four sponsors:
MyStudentHalls - Find your ideal student accommodation across the UK.
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.

Each week, Sarah Canning, Deenie Lee of The Property Marketing Strategists and Daniel Smith of RESI Consultancy will be delving into a wide variety of subjects and asking the questions that aren't often asked. This podcast is for anyone who works in Student Accommodation, BTR, Co-living, Later Living, university accommodation, Operational Real Estate or Shared Living.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are the personal views of the individual hosts and guests.