Unite Group sees more student housing cancellations as UK coronavirus cases rise

(Reuters) - Student housing provider Unite Group <UTG.L> said on Thursday there were more than usual cancellations in recent weeks following a rise in coronavirus cases in Britain, leading to occupancy falling short of its 90% target.

The company, which provides homes to 74,000 students across 177 properties in 27 university towns and cities, however, held out hope for increased sales from January from students opting to move into properties with short-hold tenancy agreements.

Schools and universities in Britain started reopening last month after the COVID-19 pandemic had forced their closure since March, resulting in students giving up their campus stay to move back home during the health crisis.

"While recognising that this is an evolving situation, all of our buildings remain open with a range of independently assessed COVID-19-secure measures in place," Unite Students CEO Richard Smith said.

The company said it still expected rental income, comprising of direct lets to students and leases to universities and commercial tenants, to fall between 10% and 20% for the 2020/21 academic year as it had to forgo rents for those students who returned to their homes for the summer semester.

(Reporting by Yadarisa Shabong in Bengaluru; Editing by Krishna Chandra Eluri)