The University of Pardubice, in the Czech Republic, has started construction of a new teaching and research centre. The estimated cost will be over CZK 500m (£18m). The building will be around 3,500sqm in size and include at least a dozen laboratories.

According to Nathan Brown at Czech Point 101, the University has very limited onsite accommodation and there is already very strong rental demand. He says: “Pardubice University has almost 10,000 students but very little onsite accommodation. Many come from foreign countries and there are over 200 courses offered in English. However, even with all these students, the available accommodation on the university campus is sadly lacking (only 1,800 beds) and the majority of students need to find their living in private rentals.”

Brown says that there has also been a fall in property price of 25-30% since the peak in 2008 and that prices have not yet recovered. He says: “The fall in property prices has given rise to a fantastic Czech investment opportunity in Pardubice.

“The investment opportunity is in small flats to rent. Conservative gross rental yields on these investments are 8%, which outstrips what is currently available in other cities such as Prague and Brno.”