I Analyzed 1,334 UK Student Properties. Here's What Providers Don't Want You to Know.

I spent 3 months scraping, analyzing, and cross-referencing data from every major student accommodation provider in the UK.

What I found shocked me.

The student housing industry is a £10 billion market. And they're betting you won't do your homework before signing a 51-week contract.

I'm about to expose everything: the worst-rated providers charging premium prices, hidden costs that add up to £997/week extra, and crime data that should be on every listing but isn't.

Let's dive in.

The Shocking Numbers

Before we get into the dirt, here's what I analyzed:

The price gap alone should make you angry. The most expensive property costs 16x more than the cheapest. That's not a typo.

🚨 The Worst-Rated Providers (That Still Charge Premium Prices)

This is where it gets ugly.

I cross-referenced Trustpilot ratings with actual prices. Some providers have terrible reviews but still charge top prices:

Let me be crystal clear: Londonist has a 1.8★ rating and charges £368/week.

That's the second-worst rating in the industry at nearly double the national average price.

Read the Trustpilot reviews yourself. Students report:

• Deposits not returned for months
• Maintenance requests ignored
• Hidden fees appearing after signing
• Impossible to reach customer service

✅ The Best-Rated Providers (Actual Good Options)

It's not all bad news. Some providers consistently deliver:

Notice something? The best-rated providers aren't even the most expensive.

True Student has a 4.1★ rating at £181/week. That's the same price as Collegiate with their pathetic 1.5★.

💰 The London Tax: You're Paying 69% More

Here's the city-by-city breakdown that will make Sheffield students feel smug:

The math is brutal:

• London: £347/week × 51 weeks = £17,697/year
• Sheffield: £105/week × 51 weeks = £5,355/year
• You save £12,342 by choosing Sheffield over London

That's enough for a used car. Or 617 Greggs sausage rolls.

🚨 The Crime Data Nobody Shows You

Every provider shows you pretty photos. Almost none show you crime data.

I pulled real UK Police API data for every property:

That's a 5,795x difference in crime rates between the safest and most dangerous properties.

The safest areas? All outside London. Huddersfield, Sheffield, Coventry.

💸 Hidden Costs That Add Up to £997/Week Extra

Here's where providers really get sneaky.

The advertised price is often just the beginning. I found properties where the "true cost" was dramatically higher:

16% of all properties don't include bills. That's an extra £30-80/week you won't see until you're locked in.

Always ask:

• ✅ Are ALL bills included? (Electric, gas, water, internet)
• ✅ What's the actual deposit amount?
• ✅ Are there any admin fees?
• ✅ What happens if you need to leave early?

The Bottom Line

After analyzing 1,334 properties, here's my advice:

DO:

• ✅ Book with Aparto, True Student, Host, or Study Inn (4.0-4.2★ ratings)
• ✅ Consider Sheffield, Huddersfield, or Preston for best value
• ✅ Check crime data before signing (use our Safety Check tool)
• ✅ Calculate TRUE weekly cost including all bills

DON'T:

• ❌ Book with Collegiate (1.5★) or Londonist (1.8★) under any circumstances
• ❌ Assume London is worth the 69% premium
• ❌ Sign without checking Trustpilot reviews first
• ❌ Ignore hidden costs that can add £997/week

Search Properties With All This Data

I built VibeMyStay specifically because this information should be free and accessible.

Every property listing shows:

• Trust Score (based on Trustpilot + reviews)
• Safety Score (real UK Police API crime data)
• True Cost (including all hidden fees)
• Vibe Score (nearby pubs, cafes, social scene)

No more guessing. No more nasty surprises.

Search 1,334 Properties →

Data sources: Trustpilot.com, UK Police API (October 2025), AmberStudent, UniAcco. Last updated February 2026.

Disclaimer: Prices and ratings change. Always verify current information before booking.