Ensuring reliability and security for student housing package deliveries.

The rise in multifamily package deliveries is not limited to conventional apartment communities. Student housing faces many of the same challenges, with college students and their families increasing back-to-college spending by roughly 40% since 2019—with much of that shopping taking place online, according to a study from the National Retail Federation.

“We live in an on-demand world where everyone has the ability to get what they want – food, transportation, information – whenever they want, and I believe this expectation to be the same for packages,” says Scott Orphan, Senior Vice President of Asset Living, a property management company for more than 115,000 beds nationwide.

The demand for electronics and decor continues to increase, and students are frequently influenced by social media platforms, particularly TikTok, for things they want. Student housing is a completely different animal when it comes to package delivery. The influx at the beginning of each semester and the subsequent exodus at the end can be hectic for property teams.

Package management in student housing can have unique issues when compared to traditional housing. Including a higher package volume due to an increased number of residents per unit. Student housing is leased by the bed, which can lead to four or five residents per unit rather than one or two.

In 2023, the top three metro markets for student housing package deliveries were Phoenix, Tampa, Fla., and Miami, according Fetch Package. When it comes to the peak delivery periods, the cities with the most deliveries to student housing are Miami, followed by Seattle and Minneapolis. In many cases, students on college campuses in the busiest cities will order close to as many packages as the urban and suburban areas that surround them.

Challenges of Student Housing Deliveries

The busiest time of the year for student housing operators is at the beginning of the school year when hundreds of students move in within just a few weeks, sometimes even just a few days apart. Students are more attracted to online delivery because of the cost and convenience benefits. Many of the students are moving into their first apartment, so they order items to furnish and decorate upon their arrival. The average renewal rate in student housing is around 30% annually, meaning 70% of students are new each school year, according to Fetch.

The majority of these move-ins happen in a very short window of time. Trying to help students find their way and handle with the flood of deliveries can be overwhelming, and the property may not even have sufficient space to store all the packages.

While residents in traditional multifamily communities may have more consistent work schedules, students can have schedules that vary widely when figuring in classes, research time, study groups and more. Housing is rarely, if ever, staffed 24 hours per day, which means a student who doesn’t want their packages left at their door can struggle to get delivery.

“We always strive to offer a hospitality-driven experience, and we wanted to adapt our operations to better serve our residents,” says Laura Formica, Senior Managing Director of Operations at Core Spaces, a multifamily owner, developer and operator with a student housing portfolio of more than 35,000 beds across the country. “A third-party system allows us to manage the growing volume of packages and make our process more efficient, which in turn allows our community teams to focus on other priorities.”

Privacy and Security Factors in Student Housing Communities

In addition to efficient package delivery, privacy and security are paramount in student housing communities. Also, student housing may have high foot traffic in areas where packages are delivered and stored, making it difficult to monitor and control access to them. 

“Packages can arrive at any time, and if a resident is at class when a package is delivered it could be sitting out for four or five hours, and it could end up missing,” said Randall Logan, West Coast Regional Manager for Core Spaces. “Offsite package management allows us to free up that time that we spend on packages and doesn’t require us to receive and store packages at the property.”

Ultimately, students want to know their packages are safe.

Even more important than package security is student security. Package management services reduce the number of people who enter the building. Rather than several delivery companies entering a building, third-party services offer a single access point which allows for better security tracking.

Delayed or misplaced packages can cause inconvenience and frustration, disrupting the lives of students and security at student housing.

Kevin Juhasz is a Content Manager with LinnellTaylor Marketing.