Host.

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.

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

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

• Student accommodation
• Purpose-built student housing
• Student lettings
• PBSA rentals
• University housing

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices22 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. 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

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core 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

Named customers13 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• The Bank (Southampton)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Newly 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)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Newly 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 ShareminorOthersHost supports food bank collections organised by Co-Op Food Share, particularly during times when students vacate accommodation for Christmas and Summer.
• The Trussell TrustminorOthersHost supports food bank collections organised by The Trussell Trust during student move-out periods to help people in need.
• British Heart Foundation (BHF)minorOthersDonation points and bags available at all Host accommodations for students to donate unwanted items including clothes, shoes, bags, and books.
• Cancer Research UKminorOthersDonation points and bags available at all Host accommodations for students to donate unwanted items supporting cancer research.
• OddBalls FoundationminorOthersHost 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 AgentsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAgents acting as joint-controllers to refer and confirm international customers to Host's accommodation services.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Vita Student:

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

• Xx.com/hoststudentsuk
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCplaceholder
• Facebookfacebook.com/HostStudentsUk
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/host-students
• Instagraminstagram.com/hoststudentsuk

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Host.