MIDAS UPDATE: Student digs tip Watkin Jones has really made the grade 

Student digs used to be associated with grotty rooms, rising damp and unreliable heating. Today's purpose-built accommodation can be very different, with ensuite bathrooms, attractive fixtures and fittings and wi-fi throughout. Watkin Jones is one of the leading providers of this new brand of digs, building and managing sites across the UK, with a focus on the Russell Group of universities.  The group has moved into the build-to-rent sector too, providing attractive, well-located flats with plenty of communal space for meeting up and socialising. Plush: Watkins Jones provides a smarter kind of student accommodation This is a fast-growing field, as people of all ages actively choose to rent rather than buy their own homes. Watkin Jones was a family business for generations so, when chief executive Richard Simpson was appointed a year ago, some investors were worried. So far, however, Simpson has proved them wrong. RELATED ARTICLES Previous 1 Next MIDAS SHARE TIPS UPDATE: Student digs tip Watkin Jones turns... MIDAS SHARE TIPS: Your funds will bear fruit in Global... PERSONAL ASSETS TRUST: Trust has one key mission - to... Will solar panels in the desert guarantee you a sunny... Share this article Share HOW THIS IS MONEY CAN HELP How to choose the best (and cheapest) DIY investing Isa - and our pick of the platforms Watkin Jones shares: Check the latest price With a strong track record in the rental sector, Simpson knows his stuff and is ambitious for the future, intending to step up growth in both the student and build-to-rent divisions. Watkin Jones has an unusual business model, in that it finds sites, secures planning and builds properties but sells the assets to big institutions before construction starts so it does not need to tie up lots of capital. Once the blocks are built, Watkin Jones will often manage them too, so it interacts directly with tenants and can tweak its services if demand dictates.  The group uses mattresses that are hard on one side and soft on the other, for instance, to accommodate different bedtime tastes. It has even installed Chinese vending machines in some blocks to help Chinese students feel at home. Midas verdict: Watkin Jones was recommended by Midas at £1.09 in 2016, just a few weeks after it floated. Today, the shares are £2.48. Sales, profits and dividends are growing steadily and the stock yields just over 3.5 per cent. The stock has had a great ride over the past four years but it should continue to deliver for both existing and new investors. TOP DIY INVESTING PLATFORMS Low cost portfolios Low cost portfolios Cheap funds fee £1.50 fund dealing Investment ideas Free fund dealing First deal free Annual 0.45 per cent account charge Free investing No fees Free investing Regular investing with no fees Flat fees Great service Fixed monthly cost Dealing from £7.50 Model portfolios Model portfolios Free fund dealing Tools and fund ideas > Compare the best investing platform for you   If you loved this article therefore you would like to get more info about vending machine for sale generously visit our web site.