Richard Tucker, director of the Home Sale Network, said students usually begin house hunting at the start of summer, and so borrowers would be advised to buy now if they want to secure tenants for the autumn term.
Tucker said: "It is appealing for parents, more so than other investors, to purchase buy-to-let properties because the rental prices close to the universities are high.
"Currently, the average rental return in Britain is around 10 per cent, with certain parts of the country reporting returns between 11per cent and 15 per cent. Parents who decide to invest in property for their children, avoid throwing money away to someone else in rent.
"Buying a house with several rooms to let is not only a sensible way to provide good quality housing for your child, but it's also cost effective, because the rent acquired from the other tenants can cover the cost of the mortgage.
"It is a situation where everyone wins - the child has a roof over their head and the parents have a longer-term investment, that can offer capital returns."
