Nicosia, Cyprus. Cyprus’ housing market is entering a new phase, with Build-to-Rent and structured student accommodation highlighted as potential tools to ease pressure on young people, according to MyStudentFlat co-founders Elena Orfanidou and Dimitris Oikonomou.
Shift from diagnosis to solutions
Orfanidou and Oikonomou said the discussion around housing pressure among young people is moving from identifying the problem to pursuing sustainable, scalable solutions. They added that in many European markets, and increasingly in Cyprus, traditional housing development alone is no longer sufficient to meet demand, particularly for students and young professionals beginning financial independence.
Build-to-Rent gains momentum
They said the Build-to-Rent model is gaining traction, describing it as an approach in which homes are designed and developed specifically for long-term rental rather than immediate sale or short-term use. They noted the model is well established in markets such as the United Kingdom and the United States, where it is viewed as a mechanism for increasing housing supply and supporting more stable rental markets.
Cyprus shortages and emerging initiatives
The co-founders said shortages of quality and modern housing remain a pressing socioeconomic challenge in Cyprus, while initiatives are beginning to emerge that move in the direction of Build-to-Rent and structured accommodation.
PropTech and developer collaboration
They described collaboration between PropTech companies and developers as a promising development, saying it can create a more predictable framework for investors while aligning supply with housing needs.
MyStudentFlat’s role and demand outlook
Orfanidou and Oikonomou said companies such as MyStudentFlat are emerging as a link between real estate development and housing demand. They said that through partnerships with developers building new or renovating existing apartments, property owners can secure long-term rental agreements with predictable returns, with homes directed into the long-term rental market primarily for students and young professionals. As founders of a start-up specialising in long-term rentals, they said they are seeing strong and growing demand for high-quality apartments.
How do you think Build-to-Rent and structured student accommodation could affect rental availability for young people in Cyprus?