Host.
Host is an independently held UK student accommodation provider operating 23+ managed properties across 22 cities, serving university students with all-inclusive weekly rents, no-deposit booking, and a digital-first platform anchored by the HostLife resident app.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1996
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Host. does
Host is a UK-based private student accommodation provider operating a multi-city portfolio of purpose-built and managed residential properties under the trading name 'Host.' The company is registered in England and Wales as Host Student Housing Management Limited (Companies House 08736304) and Host Student Housing Management (UK) Limited (07970798). Host operates 23+ properties across 22+ UK cities — including London, Oxford, Leeds, Southampton, Coventry, Cardiff, Manchester, Bristol, Bath, Birmingham, Exeter, York, Durham, and others — with each property positioned within walking or short-cycling distance of major university campuses. Its portfolio spans en-suite cluster rooms (typically £94-£250 pw), premium en-suites and studios (£200-£370 pw), and high-end studios and two-bed apartments (£260-£480 pw), with weekly rents collected via instalment plans or full annual payment.
The business runs a digital-first operating model layered on a StarRez-powered booking portal and the HostLife resident mobile application (iOS and Android) for maintenance requests, parcel tracking, and property communications. Physical infrastructure includes RFID key-card access systems, 24/7 CCTV coverage, on-site property teams, and amenities such as gyms, study rooms, communal lounges, and rooftop gardens. Host is accredited as a Platinum Operator and 2025 Best Private Housing winner by Global Student Living, is a member of the ANUK/Unipol National Code, and is registered under the UK Building Safety Act for its higher-rise properties.
Host generates revenue almost entirely through recurring weekly rent on annual academic-year contracts, supplemented by summer short-stay bookings and group-booking incentive programs (£150 referral cashback, up to £2,100 group vouchers). Its customer base consists of full-time UK and international university students aged 18+, with international students supported through third-party guarantor arrangements and Mandarin-speaking staff at select properties. Distribution is direct-to-consumer via Host's own website and app; the company does not use third-party booking aggregators. The leadership team comprises Stewart Moore (CEO) and John Nesbitt (Managing Director), and the company appears to be independently held with no disclosed venture capital or private equity backing.
Host. firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Host.
- Legal name
- Host Student Housing Management Limited / Host Student Housing Management (UK) Limited
- Website
- https://host-students.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1996
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- Host is an independently held UK student accommodation provider operating 23+ managed properties across 22 cities, serving university students with all-inclusive weekly rents, no-deposit booking, and a digital-first platform anchored by the HostLife resident app.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Host. industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Student Accommodation
- NAICS
- Rooming and Boarding Houses, Dormitories, and Workers' Camps (721310), Rooming and Boarding Houses, Dormitories, and Workers' Camps (7213)
- SIC
- Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Summer/Conference Housing & Guest Accommodations (EDALACAI)
Keywords
Where Host. is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices22 records
Markets served
Host. business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Student Accommodation Rent: Primary revenue stream from recurring weekly rent payments for student accommodation. Students pay rent via full contract payment (one lump sum) or instalment plans (typically 4 instalments per academic year). No deposit or booking fee is charged - only an advance rent payment that goes towards total rent.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Classic En-suite rooms at Southampton Crossings |
| Subscription | Annual | The Mews Oxford room types |
| Subscription | Annual | Exchange Court Leeds studio options |
| Subscription | Annual | Sky Blue Point Coventry room types |
| Subscription | Annual | Gosford Gate Coventry room types |
| Subscription | Annual | Cambridge Terrace Oxford room types |
| Subscription | Annual | Livin Cardiff room types |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels9 records
Host. product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Host provides managed student accommodation across 22+ UK cities, offering en-suite rooms and studios in purpose-built residences. All-inclusive weekly rents cover utilities, Wi-Fi, contents insurance, on-site security, and access to social events and wellness support. The HostLife app and StarRez booking portal enable direct resident booking and ongoing tenancy management.
Product overview
Host is a UK-based student accommodation provider operating a portfolio of residential properties across multiple cities including Oxford, Leeds, Coventry, Southampton, Cardiff, and others. The company's core offering consists of managed student housing units featuring en-suite rooms and studios with all-inclusive bills, free Wi-Fi, 24/7 security with CCTV coverage, and regular social events. Host's primary products are its physical accommodation properties, supplemented by the HostLife mobile application—a tenant engagement tool available on iOS and Android that enables residents to log maintenance requests, track parcels, receive updates, and communicate with property teams. The company operates under a platform model where individual properties (such as The Mews in Oxford, Exchange Court in Leeds, and Gosford Gate in Coventry) function as distinct product offerings within the Host brand portfolio, each with its own amenities, room types, and pricing structures.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- HostLife: Mobile application for residents to log maintenance requests, track parcels, and receive updates from property teams.
Products and services
- Student Accommodation Lettings Managed purpose-built student housing across 22+ UK cities, including en-suite rooms and studios (Classic, Deluxe, Premium tiers) with all-inclusive weekly rent covering utilities, Wi-Fi, contents insurance, and access to on-site amenities such as gyms, study rooms, lounges, and rooftop gardens. Targeted at UK and international university students on full academic-year, semester, or summer contracts.
- HostLife Mobile App Resident-facing mobile application available on the Apple App Store and Google Play. Allows current residents to log maintenance requests, track parcel deliveries, receive property updates, and communicate with the on-site property management team.
Quantifiable outcome
- Average Wi-Fi speeds up to 380Mb Wi-Fi and 500Mb wired at Southampton Crossings
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Host.
Customer profileNamed customers13 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Host. technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Host. partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor.
- The Bank (Southampton)minorNewly acquired property in Southampton offering studios and en-suite rooms. The Bank officially joined the Host family in 2025, expanding the company's presence in Southampton alongside Southampton Crossings.
- The Cavendish (Winchester)minorNewly acquired property in Winchester offering studios and en-suite rooms. The Cavendish joined Host in 2025, marking the company's expansion into Winchester.
- Co-Op Food ShareminorHost supports food bank collections organised by Co-Op Food Share, particularly during times when students vacate accommodation for Christmas and Summer.
- The Trussell TrustminorHost supports food bank collections organised by The Trussell Trust during student move-out periods to help people in need.
- British Heart Foundation (BHF)minorDonation points and bags available at all Host accommodations for students to donate unwanted items including clothes, shoes, bags, and books.
- Cancer Research UKminorDonation points and bags available at all Host accommodations for students to donate unwanted items supporting cancer research.
- OddBalls FoundationminorHost supports the OddBalls Foundation in breaking the stigma around testicular cancer and getting young men talking about the disease, targeting the key demographic of university students.
- International AgentsminorAgents acting as joint-controllers to refer and confirm international customers to Host's accommodation services.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Host. competitors and assessment
Company assessmentOthers
Direct peers
- iQ Student Accommodation: Major UK PBSA provider (~80+ properties, LSE-listed, formerly part of Goldman Sachs and now merged with Liberty Living). Directly comparable purpose-built student housing with similar all-inclusive pricing and university-city footprint.
- Unite Students: Largest UK PBSA operator (~70+ properties, LSE-listed). Directly competes with Host across most of Host's 22 cities; comparable student-only accommodation model with all-inclusive bills and city-centre focus.
- Optivo Students: Housing association operator providing student-focused accommodation in London and the South East. Comparable in regulatory standing (ANUK/Unipol-style codes) and target demographic.
- Student Roost: UK PBSA operator (owned by Brookfield) operating ~50 properties across major university cities. Direct competitor with comparable student-only operating model and university-proximity strategy.
- Homes for Students: Mid-market UK PBSA operator owned by Pension Insurance Corporation with ~20,000+ beds. Closest size comparable to Host with similar all-inclusive model and tiered room/weekly pricing across university cities.
- Fresh Student Living: Mid-sized UK PBSA operator with ~20+ properties. Comparable target market (university students), comparable all-inclusive offering, and comparable tiered room mix (en-suites and studios).
- CRM Students: Premium UK student accommodation operator with a portfolio comparable in size and geographic spread to Host. Competes for institutional owner mandates and targets a similar university-student demographic.
- Chapter London: London-focused student accommodation operator (studios and clusters) with similar amenity-led, digitally-enabled model and all-inclusive pricing aimed at university students in a major UK city.
Broad incumbents
- Greystar UK (Scape): Global multifamily/PBSA giant operating the Scape brand in the UK (London and major university cities). Significantly larger and capitalised; competes for institutional owner mandates and sets pricing benchmarks in the markets Host operates in.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Host. social profiles
Digital presenceHost. compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
Host. financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Host. leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Host. funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Host. 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 Host.
What does Host. do?
Host provides managed student accommodation across 22+ UK cities, offering en-suite rooms and studios in purpose-built residences. All-inclusive weekly rents cover utilities, Wi-Fi, contents insurance, on-site security, and access to social events and wellness support. The HostLife app and StarRez booking portal enable direct resident booking and ongoing tenancy management.
Is Host. a public or private company?
Host. is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Host. founded?
Host. was founded in 1996. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Host. based?
Host. is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Host. make money?
One revenue line is on record: student Accommodation Rent.
Who are Host.'s main competitors?
Vita Student is listed as an others. Direct peers are iQ Student Accommodation, Unite Students, Optivo Students, Student Roost, Homes for Students, Fresh Student Living, CRM Students and Chapter London. Greystar UK (Scape) is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Host. have an API?
No public API is recorded for Host..
What industry is Host. in?
Host.'s product category is Student Accommodation. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDALACAI, Summer/Conference Housing & Guest Accommodations. Its NAICS code is 721310 and its SIC code is 7000.