Student digs given new lease of life

This Manawatu school sports team was one which stayed at Dublin Apartments. Photo/Supplied

They started life as accommodation for Whanganui UCOL students and after sitting empty for three years there's new life being breathed into the Dublin St apartments.

Tracey Onishenko, managing director of Landlords Link Ltd in Whanganui, said the original plan was to market the units as long-term rental accommodation but some recent school sports events in the city have brought about a marketing change.

"In the last few weeks the apartments have been full to the brim booked out to visiting school sports teams," Ms Onishenko said.

"It proved an excellent hub for all the teams to stay as it's a very central location close to everything and only a stone throws away from the Splash Centre where they went most nights to recoup."

She said each apartment had six beds, two bathrooms and a fully equipped kitchen.

"That meant enough room for them all to spread out and feel at home. And they loved access to wi-fi as well.

"But the point is that having the teams here short-term proved such a success that Landlords Link is offering the apartments as short-term accommodation for similar sporting events. Whanganui has a shortage of places for teams to stay now so this is a cost-effective place to stay."

Ms Onishenko said some schools contacted her office desperately for places to stay.

"That made me think about kitting out the apartments for the sports teams and see how it went. We couldn't be happier with the outcome," she said.