I Ranked Every Major Student Accommodation Provider (And Some Will Hate Me For This)

Nobody does this.

Every "best student accommodation" article is either sponsored content or surface-level fluff. Nobody actually compares the providers with real data.

So I did it myself.

I pulled Trustpilot ratings, analyzed 1,300+ properties, read hundreds of reviews, and created the only honest tier list of UK student accommodation providers.

No sponsorships. No affiliate bias. Just data.

Let's go.

The Tier List

Now let me explain why.

S Tier: Actually Good

Every Student - 3.6★ (78 reviews)

The surprise winner.

Every Student is a smaller provider, but their Trustpilot score is legitimately impressive. 3.6 stars in student accommodation is like 4.5 stars in any other industry - students only leave reviews when they're angry.

What reviews say:

• Responsive maintenance
• Helpful staff
• Clean properties
• Fair deposit returns

The catch: Limited locations. You might not find them in your city.

Verdict: If they're in your city, book them.

Prestige Student Living - 3.4★ (56 reviews)

Premium pricing, but apparently worth it.

Prestige charges more than Unite or iQ, but their reviews suggest you get what you pay for.

What reviews say:

• Modern buildings
• Good facilities
• Professional management
• Fewer maintenance nightmares

The catch: 15-25% more expensive than budget options.

Verdict: Worth the premium if you can afford it.

A Tier: Solid Choices

Capitol Students - 3.3★ (50 reviews)

Decent mid-tier provider. Not exciting, but not problematic.

Pattern in reviews: Consistent but basic. Nothing fancy, nothing broken.

Homes for Students (HFS) - 3.3★ (50 reviews)

Similar to Capitol - reliable without being remarkable.

Now Student Living - 3.2★ (40 reviews)

Newer provider making a decent impression. Worth considering.

B Tier: Fine, With Caveats

Host Students - 3.0★ (200+ reviews)

The definition of average.

Host is fine. Not great, not terrible. Reviews are mixed - some buildings are excellent, others have issues.

Key insight: Host quality varies MASSIVELY by building. Research the specific property, not just the brand.

Vita Student - 2.9★ (100+ reviews)

Premium pricing, average execution. Reviews suggest you're paying for aesthetics over substance.

C Tier: Proceed With Caution

Unite Students - 2.7★ (1,320 reviews)

The Ryanair of student accommodation.

Unite is the UK's largest student housing provider. They're also one of the most complained about.

The pattern in 1,320 reviews:

• Slow maintenance (weeks/months for repairs)
• Deposit disputes (the #1 complaint)
• Poor communication
• "You get what you pay for"

Why people still book them:

1. They're everywhere (most cities, most universities)
2. They're cheap (often the budget option)
3. Brand recognition (parents trust the name)

My honest take: Unite is like budget airlines. The price is right, the experience is meh. If you book Unite:

• Document EVERYTHING at check-in
• Take timestamped photos
• Keep all communication in writing
• Expect slow maintenance

Verdict: Fine for first year if you're on a tight budget. Wouldn't rebook.

iQ Student Accommodation - 2.7★ (500+ reviews)

Same problems as Unite, smaller scale.

iQ and Unite have almost identical ratings and almost identical complaints. The main issues:

• Maintenance delays
• Deposit deductions
• Unresponsive management

The difference: iQ tends to have slightly newer buildings in some cities.

Verdict: Interchangeable with Unite. Same caveats apply.

D Tier: Avoid If Possible

Student Roost - 2.4★ (300+ reviews)

Red flags everywhere.

When you're below 2.5 stars with hundreds of reviews, there's a systemic problem.

Common complaints:

• Deposit theft (students' words, not mine)
• Months without repairs
• Aggressive/rude staff
• Bait-and-switch tactics

My take: Some students have fine experiences. But the risk is higher than other providers. Only book if no alternatives exist.

Collegiate - 1.5★ (67 reviews)

Yikes.

1.5 stars is genuinely bad. Not "student housing bad" - actually bad.

Pattern: Premium pricing, budget execution. Beautiful marketing, ugly reality.

Verdict: Hard avoid.

Fresh Student Living - 1.5★ (reviews)

Same tier as Collegiate, same problems.

High promises, low delivery. Reviews paint a picture of poor management and worse maintenance.

Verdict: Find literally any alternative.

The Uncomfortable Truth About Student Accommodation

Here's what the data reveals:

The entire industry averages 2.5-2.7 stars.

That's not "these companies are bad." That's "the business model has problems."

Student housing providers know:

• You're locked into a 51-week contract
• You're probably 18-21 with no rental experience
• Your parents are paying, so you won't fight
• The deposit is their negotiating leverage
• You'll be gone in a year anyway

This creates zero incentive for excellence.

The providers that score well (3.0+) are the exceptions, not the rule.

How I'd Choose (If I Were Starting Uni)

If budget is tight:

Book Unite or iQ, but:

• Choose newer buildings (fewer maintenance issues)
• Document everything obsessively
• Budget for deposit disputes
• Accept "good enough" over "good"

If you can pay 15-20% more:

Go with Every Student, Prestige, or Host (research the specific building).

The extra money buys:

• Better maintenance response
• Cleaner buildings
• Fairer deposit process
• Less stress

If premium isn't an issue:

Look at Prestige or university-owned halls. Or skip PBSA entirely and rent privately with friends.

The Questions You Should Actually Ask

Before booking with ANY provider:

1. "What's your average maintenance response time?" (Get it in writing)
2. "What percentage of deposits are returned in full?" (They won't answer, but their reaction tells you everything)
3. "Can I speak to a current resident?" (Good providers say yes)
4. "What's your complaints procedure?" (If it's complicated, that's intentional)

Final Tier List Summary

The Bottom Line

Student accommodation providers are not created equal.

The big names (Unite, iQ) survive on volume and brand recognition, not quality. Smaller providers often deliver better experiences.

Do your research. Read Trustpilot. Document everything. And don't let anyone tell you 2.7 stars is "normal" - it's just what we've accepted.

Compare properties by provider rating →

Data from Trustpilot, January 2026. Ratings change over time.

Disclaimer: Personal analysis based on public reviews. Not affiliated with any provider. Your experience may vary by location and building.