Homes for Students

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.

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

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

• Student accommodation services
• Purpose-built student housing
• Student housing rentals
• Student property management
• University accommodation services

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Infrastructure, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core 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

Named customers4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• GRAHAM Investment Projects & Mooney Hotel GroupflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint 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 MindscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerHomes 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.
• TransferMatecoreTechnology or IntegrationTransferMate 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.
• UnpackedminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUnpacked 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 HandcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHousing 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 / StudentcomcoreTechnology or IntegrationTwo 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 PaymentscoreTechnology or IntegrationPayment-processing partners supporting HFS's PCI-DSS-validated card payments infrastructure (referenced via logos on the homepage footer).
• ANUK / The National CodecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHomes 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 / PSRAcoreOthersMulti-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

Direct 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

• Xx.com/TweetHFS
• Facebookfacebook.com/HomesForStudentsUK

Compliance13 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Homes for Students