I think I went 250 5* reviews in a row prior to recently where I've seen an uptick in 4*, often for things that are clearly hotel expectations, like the most recent one of a guest mentioning they loved their stay but were annoyed the communal pool area didn't provide towels and towel-drop and they had to take the towels back and forth from the house and dry them in between uses. 

In a podcast the other day, I heard about an investor who repurposed his laundry room into a communal area, transferred water costs to the tenants, installed hookups in all units, and gave them the option to lease a washing machine and dryer for ~$35/month.

Are you guys doing communal bathrooms / kitchens?

It will have communal (guest) access along with being attached to the third (front) bedroom.

Not sure, it is still communal living.  

Is Looking to Create Communal Spaces for Multifamily a Good Idea?

. :-) Communal living on one side would mean that you could self-manage and not have to give up one of the bedrooms for an in-house manager, and yet not actually have to live with the students.It would have been extraordinary if you had found seller financing.

If the HoA is basically gone then good luck trying to get communal funds to pay for the roof if a limb falls or brushes it to the point of damage.  

You could add a communal laundry room with coin fed machines. 

This will lead to a large communal area on the first floor and seperate enterances to each apartment.