Homes for Students
Homes for Students is the UK's largest independent purpose-built student accommodation operator, managing over 55,000 beds across 235 properties in the UK, Ireland and Italy. It rents all-inclusive, fixed-term tenancies directly to domestic and international university students, backed by an in-house booking platform and residents app, and operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Singapore-listed Far East Orchard following its September 2025 acquisition.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Homes for Students does
Homes for Students (HFS) is one of the largest independent purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) operators in the UK and Ireland, founded in 2015 and headquartered in Harrogate. It operates more than 55,000 beds across 235 properties spanning roughly 56 cities from Aberdeen to Plymouth, with additional operations in Dublin and a single Italian site in L'Aquila. The company serves full-time UK, Irish and international university students and bills itself as a single scaled counterparty for universities and property developers seeking professionally managed student housing, distinct from the fragmented private HMO market.
The operating platform is built around the BasePMS self-serve booking portal and the KLIQ branded residents app for parcels, maintenance, social-space booking and building notifications, supported by a managed dual-ISP internet network (Ask4 and Glide/Studentcom) and a PCI-DSS-validated payment stack integrating TransferMate, Worldpay/FIS and Global Payments. Housing Hand is the exclusive third-party guarantor service, and Unpacked provides co-branded bedding and kitchen packs. The management system is certified to ISO 9001, ISO 27001, ISO 20000-1, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001, and the business holds ANUK/National Code, ARLA Propertymark, Property Redress, PSRA (Ireland) and Scottish LARN2005009 accreditations, with ANUK membership granting exemption from the UK Renters' Rights Act for English PBSA.
HFS generates revenue primarily through fixed-term 40–52 week tenancy agreements (typically paid in three instalments or upfront where no UK guarantor is available) at all-inclusive weekly rents covering gas, electricity, water and Wi-Fi. Secondary streams include short-stay and summer bookings, third-party PBSA management fees from developer partners (e.g., the ~561-bed Belfast Wellington Park Hotel scheme with GRAHAM and Mooney), ancillary fees (£50 variation-of-contract and deferred-rent admin fees, dual-occupancy uplift, parking) and partner-sourced paid services. Following Singapore-listed Far East Orchard's phased acquisition completed in September 2025, HFS now operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary within the Far East Orchard group, retaining the Homes for Students brand alongside the Prestige Student Living and Universal Student Living sub-brands.
Homes for Students firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Homes for Students
- Legal name
- Homes for Students Ltd.
- Website
- https://wearehomesforstudents.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Acquired
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- Homes for Students is the UK's largest independent purpose-built student accommodation operator, managing over 55,000 beds across 235 properties in the UK, Ireland and Italy. It rents all-inclusive, fixed-term tenancies directly to domestic and international university students, backed by an in-house booking platform and residents app, and operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Singapore-listed Far East Orchard following its September 2025 acquisition.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Homes for Students industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Student Accommodation
- NAICS
- Rooming and Boarding Houses, Dormitories, and Workers' Camps (72131)
- SIC
- Real Estate Operators (No Developers) & Lessors (6510)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) Providers & Operators (EDAIALAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Off-Campus Purpose-Built Student Housing (PBSA) Management (BPAJAJAB), Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) – Short-Term Leases (THAMAGAB), Student Residence Halls & Dormitory Management (On-/Near-Campus) (EDAIALAB)
Keywords
Where Homes for Students is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Homes for Students business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Infrastructure, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Others
Revenue model
- Student accommodation rental (PBSA leases): Primary revenue stream: weekly rent charged under fixed-term tenancy agreements (typically aligned to academic year with 3-instalment or upfront options). Rent is all-inclusive of utilities and Wi-Fi. Customer base is full-time students in the UK and Ireland across 235 properties / 55,000+ beds. Far East Orchard consolidation reports group revenue surge of 65.3% to S$156.3m in H2 FY2025 driven materially by Homes for Students contribution.
- Short-term and summer accommodation stays: Secondary revenue stream: short-stay and summer lets (booked via dedicated short-term booking line 03330 608 344 and short-term email), generating nightly/short-stay revenue outside standard academic tenancy cycle.
- Third-party management fees (PBSA operator): Homes for Students is engaged by third-party developers as the operating manager of new-build PBSA (e.g., Belfast Wellington Park Hotel / Botanic Inn scheme with GRAHAM Investment Projects and Mooney Hotel Group), generating management/operating fees in addition to direct lettings revenue.
- Ancillary student services (deposits, admin fees, dual occupancy, parking): Ancillary fees including £50 variation-of-contract fee for room re-let, £50 admin fee for deferred rent arrangements, £50 dual-occupancy uplift, optional car parking permits and contents insurance uplift, plus partner-sourced paid services (Unpacked bedding/kitchen packs, Housing Hand guarantor service).
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | All-inclusive weekly rent with utilities & Wi-Fi bundled |
| Other | Annual | 3-instalment payment plan with UK guarantor |
| Other | Annual | Upfront full-payment tier (no UK guarantor) |
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | Short-term and summer stays |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels9 records
Homes for Students product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Homes for Students provides all-inclusive purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) across 235 properties and 55,000+ beds in the UK, Ireland and Italy. Students rent a room under fixed-term tenancies (typically aligned to the academic year) with gas, electricity, water and unlimited Wi-Fi bundled into a single weekly rent, supported by on-site teams, CCTV, key-fob access, communal amenities and a branded KLIQ residents app. The company also operates a short-term/summer-stay programme, takes on third-party PBSA management mandates from property developers, and offers ancillary resident services (deposits, admin fees, dual-occupancy, parking, contents insurance and partner-sourced bedding and guarantor products).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Prestige Student Living: Co-branded purpose-built student accommodation brand displayed alongside Homes for Students on individual properties (e.g., Belfast, Bath, Birmingham).
- Universal Student Living
Products and services
- Student Accommodation Rentals (PBSA Tenancies) Primary purpose-built student accommodation rental product: weekly all-inclusive rent for rooms in 235 properties and 55,000+ beds across 56+ UK, Irish and Italian cities, with on-site teams, CCTV, key-fob access, communal amenities and bundled utilities/Wi-Fi. For full-time higher-education students.
- Short-Term and Summer Stays Secondary short-stay/summer-let product generating nightly usage-based revenue outside the standard academic tenancy cycle. Bookable via the dedicated short-term booking line. For short-term visitors (e.g., summer interns, conference attendees, group bookings).
- Third-Party PBSA Management Services B2B operating-manager service in which Homes for Students is appointed by third-party property developers and asset owners to operate new-build or acquired PBSA assets on their behalf, generating management/operating fees alongside its direct-lettings revenue. For real-estate developers and institutional investors.
- Ancillary Resident Services Fee-based ancillary services offered to residents alongside the core tenancy: £50 variation-of-contract fee for room re-letting, £50 admin fee for deferred rent arrangements, £50 dual-occupancy uplift, optional car parking permits, contents insurance uplift, and partner-sourced paid services such as Unpacked bedding/kitchen packs and Housing Hand guarantor service referrals.
- Student Experience Programme Resident-life product offering organised activities and events across the portfolio, including movie/book clubs, boot camp sessions, competitions, seasonal parties and cooking experiences. Bundled into the tenancy experience for students.
- Student Minds Corporate Partnership Programme Pastoral-care and mental-health support offering delivered in partnership with Student Minds across the Homes for Students portfolio, including co-branded signposting and dedicated support resources for residents.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 55,000 beds across 235 properties in UK and Ireland (Established 2015)
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Homes for Students
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Homes for Students technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration6 records
Feature5 records
Homes for Students partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.
- GRAHAM Investment Projects & Mooney Hotel GroupflagshipJoint venture between GRAHAM Investment Projects and the Mooney Hotel Group to redevelop the former Wellington Park Hotel site in South Belfast into approximately 561 purpose-built student accommodation homes, with plans to modernise the Botanic Inn as part of the scheme. Homes for Students has been appointed as the operating manager of the resulting development, targeted at Queen's University Belfast students (subject to planning approval).
- Student MindscoreHomes for Students is a corporate partner of Student Minds, the UK's leading student mental health charity. The partnership is referenced in the main FAQ (signposting the Student Minds website and the Samaritans number 116 123), supported via a dedicated blog/news page (abouthomesforstudents.com/student-minds) and a co-branded logo placement on the homepage.
- TransferMatecoreTransferMate is integrated into the HFS payment journey to enable international students to pay accommodation fees more cheaply (avoiding typical international transfer fees). Co-branded footer logo, dedicated /transfermate landing page and FAQ reference.
- UnpackedminorUnpacked provides co-branded student bedding and kitchen packs ('Unpacked have teamed up with Homes for Students') with checkout on unpacked.co.uk surfaced from the HFS site and FAQ.
- Housing HandcoreHousing Hand is HFS's chosen (exclusive) guarantor service provider for students without a UK guarantor. Referred in FAQ ('we only work with Housing Hand and we do not accept other Guarantor Service Providers') and via dedicated landing page on hh.housinghand.co.uk.
- Ask4 & Glide / StudentcomcoreTwo managed internet providers deliver the unlimited Wi-Fi included in every HFS tenancy. Glide (Studentcom) and Ask4 are the named support contacts (0333 123 0115 / 0114 303 3232) referenced in FAQ.
- Worldpay (FIS) & Global PaymentscorePayment-processing partners supporting HFS's PCI-DSS-validated card payments infrastructure (referenced via logos on the homepage footer).
- ANUK / The National CodecoreHomes for Students is a member of the ANUK National Code of Standards for Student Accommodation and sits on the National Code's Committee of Management; participation in complaints procedures. ANUK/National Code membership also qualifies HFS for exemption from the Renters' Rights Act.
- Propertymark / ARLA Propertymark / The Property Redress Scheme / Scottish Association of Landlords / PSRAcoreMulti-jurisdictional regulatory memberships: ARLA Propertymark (client money protection / conduct rules), Property Redress Scheme, Scottish Association of Landlords (with Letting Agent Reg LARN2005009), and PSRA (Ireland). Each surfaces as a footer badge and links to the relevant certificate.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Homes for Students competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Unite Students: The largest UK-listed purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) operator, managing c.70,000+ beds across major university cities. Directly comparable to Homes for Students in product (PBSA), customer (UK university students), and business model (operate + manage), with similar university referral channels and all-inclusive pricing.
- Student Roost: Major UK PBSA operator (acquired by Brookfield) operating thousands of beds across UK university cities. Directly comparable to Homes for Students on PBSA operating model, university channel, and city footprint, with similar all-inclusive pricing and resident experience programmes.
- iQ Student Accommodation: Large UK and Ireland PBSA operator owned by Blackstone, with tens of thousands of beds across UK university cities. Direct competitor to Homes for Students in PBSA, university referral model, and city-centre student properties with comparable amenity and pricing positioning.
- Chapter Living: UK PBSA operator with properties across London and other major university cities. Direct competitor to Homes for Students on PBSA operating model, target customer (domestic and international students), and amenity-driven resident experience positioning.
- Mezzino: UK PBSA-focused operator managing thousands of beds across multiple university cities on behalf of institutional owners. Direct comparator to Homes for Students' third-party PBSA management business model (operating manager for developer/funder clients) and university-channel demand generation.
- Hello Student: UK PBSA operator with properties across university cities, offering all-inclusive rents and amenity-led living. Direct competitor to Homes for Students on PBSA product, target customer segment, and pricing/bundling structure (utilities + Wi-Fi included).
- Downing Students: UK PBSA developer and operator with a portfolio of city-centre student properties. Comparable to Homes for Students on PBSA operating model, university city footprint, and integrated develop-and-operate approach.
- CRM Students: Independent UK PBSA management and operating platform focused on third-party-managed student schemes. Direct peer to Homes for Students on third-party PBSA operating management, university relationships, and resident experience programmes.
- Urbanest: Premium PBSA operator with London-focused city-centre student properties. Comparable to Homes for Students' premium sub-brand Prestige Student Living on product positioning (high-amenity, studio-heavy PBSA) and target customer (international and postgraduate students).
Broad incumbents
- Greystar Real Estate Partners: Global leader in rental housing and student accommodation (including UK PBSA through platforms and direct operations). Broader incumbent with overlapping PBSA activity in the UK, comparable business model of large-scale operating + management of student assets across multiple geographies.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Homes for Students social profiles
Digital presenceHomes for Students compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance13 records
Homes for Students financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Homes for Students leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Homes for Students subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
Homes for Students funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Homes for Students M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Homes for Students
What does Homes for Students do?
Homes for Students provides all-inclusive purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) across 235 properties and 55,000+ beds in the UK, Ireland and Italy. Students rent a room under fixed-term tenancies (typically aligned to the academic year) with gas, electricity, water and unlimited Wi-Fi bundled into a single weekly rent, supported by on-site teams, CCTV, key-fob access, communal amenities and a branded KLIQ residents app. The company also operates a short-term/summer-stay programme, takes on third-party PBSA management mandates from property developers, and offers ancillary resident services (deposits, admin fees, dual-occupancy, parking, contents insurance and partner-sourced bedding and guarantor products).
Is Homes for Students a public or private company?
Homes for Students is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently acquired.
When was Homes for Students founded?
Homes for Students was founded in 2015. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is Homes for Students based?
Homes for Students is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Homes for Students make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Student accommodation rental (PBSA leases) is the primary driver. The others are short-term and summer accommodation stays, third-party management fees (PBSA operator) and ancillary student services (deposits, admin fees, dual occupancy, parking).
Who are Homes for Students's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Unite Students, Student Roost, iQ Student Accommodation, Chapter Living, Mezzino, Hello Student, Downing Students, CRM Students and Urbanest. Greystar Real Estate Partners is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Homes for Students have an API?
No public API is recorded for Homes for Students.
What industry is Homes for Students in?
Homes for Students's product category is Student Accommodation. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAIALAA, Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) Providers & Operators, with a secondary code of BPAJAJAB, Off-Campus Purpose-Built Student Housing (PBSA) Management. Its NAICS code is 72131 and its SIC code is 6510.