I Spent 20 Hours Reading Trustpilot Reviews. Here's Which Providers Actually Deserve Your Money.
Before you sign a 51-week contract worth £5,000-15,000, you should probably know if the company is any good.
Sounds obvious. But most students just book the cheapest option and hope for the best.
I went through every major provider's Trustpilot page. I read the good reviews, the bad reviews, the angry all-caps reviews at 2am. Here's what I found.
The Complete Rankings (December 2025)
The Good (3.5+ Stars) - Book With Confidence
| Provider | Rating | Properties | My Verdict | |----------|--------|------------|------------| | Host | 4.0★ | 22 | Best rated. Smaller portfolio but quality. | | UniAcco | 4.0★ | 178 | Booking platform. Good ratings. | | Vita Student | 3.1★ | 17 | Premium. Generally positive. |
What these have in common: Smaller portfolios (except UniAcco), more responsive management, fewer horror stories.
The Average (2.5-3.5 Stars) - Check The Specific Building
| Provider | Rating | Properties | My Verdict | |----------|--------|------------|------------| | Student Castle | 3.0★ | 8 | Small, okay reviews. | | Chapter | 2.9★ | 16 | Mixed feedback, variable. | | Unite Students | 2.7★ | 108 | Biggest provider. Hit or miss. | | iQ | 2.7★ | 77 | Similar to Unite. |
What 2.7 stars actually means: It's not terrible, but experiences vary wildly. Some buildings are great, some are nightmares. You MUST research the specific property, not just the brand.
The Bad (Below 2.5 Stars) - Think Twice
| Provider | Rating | Properties | My Verdict | |----------|--------|------------|------------| | Student Roost | 2.4★ | 55 | Common complaints about deposits. | | Collegiate | 1.5★ | 22 | Red flag territory. |
1.5 stars is BAD. We're talking consistent complaints about:
- Ignored maintenance requests
- Aggressive deposit deductions
- Poor communication
- Basic things not working
Deep Dive: What People Actually Complain About
I categorized hundreds of complaints. Here are the patterns:
Issue #1: Deposits (Every Provider)
The single biggest issue across the industry. Common complaints:
- "They charged me for marks that were there when I moved in"
- "Took 3 months to get my deposit back"
- "Deducted £300 for 'cleaning' - the flat was spotless"
How to protect yourself:
- Take photos of EVERYTHING at move-in
- Email them to yourself (creates timestamp)
- Report any existing damage in writing immediately
- Take dated photos at move-out too
Issue #2: Maintenance (Unite, iQ, Student Roost)
Common pattern:
- Log an issue
- Get told it's "in the queue"
- Wait 3 weeks
- Chase again
- Finally gets fixed (or doesn't)
Reality check: These are big operations. They're not going to fix your squeaky door immediately. But major issues (heating, water, locks) should be same-day or next-day.
Issue #3: Hidden Costs (iQ especially)
Watch out for:
- "Admin fees" at booking
- Cleaning fees at end of tenancy
- Charges for things you assumed were included
- Upselling at every opportunity
Always get the total cost in writing before booking.
Issue #4: Move-In Issues (Most Providers)
First impressions matter. Common complaints:
- Room not properly cleaned
- Previous tenant's stuff still there
- Advertised amenities not working
- Different room than shown in photos
My advice: Arrive early on move-in day. If there are issues, document them immediately and escalate before you unpack.
The Collegiate Problem
I need to talk about Collegiate specifically because 1.5 stars is genuinely concerning.
What I found in reviews:
- "5 months to fix my heating"
- "Mould in the bathroom, they just painted over it"
- "Still waiting for my deposit 6 months later"
- "Booked a studio, given a smaller room"
Obviously, some people have fine experiences. But the pattern of complaints is consistent enough that I'd avoid them unless you have no other choice.
My Recommendations By Situation
You want peace of mind:
Book Host or Vita Student. Pay a bit more, sleep better.
You're on a tight budget:
Unite or iQ are fine, but research the specific building. Check reviews for that exact property on Trustpilot and Google.
You found a great deal with Student Roost:
Proceed, but be paranoid about deposits. Document everything.
The only option is Collegiate:
Consider other cities if possible. If not, document OBSESSIVELY from day one.
The Inconvenient Truth
Here's what nobody wants to admit:
Most student accommodation is "fine." Not great. Not terrible. Just fine.
You'll have a room, WiFi will work (mostly), bills will be included. You'll probably have at least one annoying maintenance issue. Your deposit might be disputed.
The difference between providers is often:
- How quickly issues get fixed
- How fairly deposits are handled
- How responsive they are to complaints
At 4.0★, Host handles these well. At 1.5★, Collegiate doesn't.
Final Advice
- Always check specific building reviews - Provider average doesn't tell you everything
- Document everything at move-in - Photos, videos, emails
- Read your contract - Know the notice period, deposit rules, what's included
- Join the building's group chat - Current residents know things you don't
- Don't just book the cheapest - An extra £10/week for a better provider is £500/year for much less stress
Trustpilot ratings verified December 2025