STUDENT UNION LETTINGS

What STUDENT UNION LETTINGS does

Sulets (legally STUDENT UNION LETTINGS LIMITED) is a not-for-profit student lettings agency operating exclusively in Leicester and Loughborough, UK. Founded in 2009 as DSU Lettings and rebranded in September 2011 as a joint venture between De Montfort Students' Union and Leicester Students' Union, the company is structured as a registered educational charity (Charity No. 1149922) governed by a Trustee Board with university and student union representation. It serves approximately 2,500 students per year across University of Leicester, De Montfort University, and Loughborough University, with a portfolio comprising 2,300+ beds in Leicester, 200+ beds in Loughborough, and 150+ shared student houses. Core products include shared student housing for groups of 2–8 (weekly rent £80–£115), premium studios (£133–£199/week, often with all-inclusive bills), Student Roost purpose-built halls bookings, and a Sulets Leased Service for landlords offering guaranteed rent and full property management at 10–15% fees with fixed-term contracts that exploit Sulets' charity-based exemption from the Renters' Rights Act.

The business operates a two-sided model with distinct revenue mechanics. On the demand side, students search and book through the sulets.com website, conduct viewings, and complete tenancies digitally via the StuRents (Concurrent) platform, with 360-degree virtual tours available for international students and an on-campus office at DMU's Campus Centre Building for in-person service. On the supply side, Sulets leases properties directly from landlords under its Leased Service, sub-lets to students, and retains the spread between guaranteed rent and student rent. Additional revenue comes from ancillary landlord compliance services (gas safety £85, EPC £132, PAT testing £66, electrical certificates £300, HMO applications £300, property inspections £60), referral commissions from The Student Energy Group bills packages, and contents insurance partnerships with Cover4Students and Howden. Distribution leverages exclusive endorsements from both Leicester Students' Unions and Loughborough University, providing on-campus marketing access to over 20,000 students.

The company holds Investors in People Platinum accreditation (top 2% of accredited organisations), Client Money Protection membership, Property Redress Scheme membership, Good Business Charter and Living Wage Foundation accreditation, and was ranked in The Sunday Times Best Places to Work 2026 in the Small Organisations category. Customer satisfaction metrics are exceptionally strong for the sector: 95.71% of students would recommend Sulets (2026 survey), 89.19% rate rent as good value, and over 90% of landlords recommend the service (2025 survey), supported by a 4.6-star Google rating across 478 reviews. As a non-profit, the entity has no external equity investors, conducts no funding rounds, and reinvests any surplus into operations or student experience.

Name

STUDENT UNION LETTINGS

Legal name

STUDENT UNION LETTINGS LIMITED

Website

https://sulets.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Sulets (Student Union Lettings) is a not-for-profit student lettings agency serving approximately 2,500 students annually across Leicester and Loughborough, operating 2,500+ beds in shared houses, studios, and Student Roost halls under a joint venture between De Montfort and Leicester Students' Unions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Student Accommodation Lettings

NAICS

Residential Property Managers (531311), Services to Buildings and Dwellings (5617)

SIC

Services-To Dwellings & Other Buildings (7340), Real Estate Operators (No Developers) & Lessors (6510)

akta.pro primary industry

Student Housing Property Management (BPAJAFAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Off-Campus Housing Support & Landlord Relations (EDALACAJ), Student Housing Tenant Representation (BPAJALAE), Student Housing Marketing & Student Acquisition (BPAJAJAK)

Keywords

• Student accommodation lettings
• Student housing services
• Property management agency
• Landlord leased service
• Purpose-built student accommodation

Headquarters

HQ city

Leicester

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Landlord Leased Service Fees: Sulets charges landlords a 10% fee (no VAT) for the first tenancy signed, increasing to 15% (no VAT) for subsequent tenancies. Landlords lease their properties to Sulets for a fixed term, with Sulets guaranteeing rent payments and managing all aspects of tenancy.
2. Student Housing Management: Sulets acts as the landlord for certain properties (Sulets Leased), collecting rent from students and managing the property throughout the tenancy period.
3. Bills Packages: Sulets offers competitive bills packages through partner The Student Energy Group for properties without inclusive bills, generating referral revenue.
4. Additional Services: Fees for additional landlord services including gas safety certificates (£85), EPC (£132), PAT testing (£66), electrical certificates (£300), HMO applications (£300), and property inspections (£60).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Sulets is a not-for-profit student lettings agency that lets and manages student accommodation (shared houses, studios, and purpose-built halls) to undergraduates and postgraduates in Leicester and Loughborough, partnered with the University of Leicester, De Montfort University, and Loughborough University. The company also runs a Leased Service for property landlords, where it leases properties at a fixed term, sub-lets to students, guarantees rent, and manages day-to-day operations. Supplementary offerings include all-inclusive bills packages, short-term rooms, a student referral programme, and 24-hour maintenance and repairs support.

Product overview

Sulets is a not-for-profit student lettings agency offering a portfolio of accommodation services for students in Leicester and Loughborough. The core offering consists of three main product lines: (1) Sulets Student Housing — shared houses for groups of 2-8 people; (2) Sulets Student Studios — modern self-contained studios for independent living; and (3) Student Roost Halls of Residence — purpose-built accommodation with all-inclusive bills. The Sulets Leased Service provides landlords with guaranteed rent and full property management under a fixed-term contract. Supplementary services include all-inclusive bills packages (via The Student Energy Group), short-term accommodation, a referral programme, and maintenance and repairs support. The company operates exclusively in Leicester and Loughborough, serving students at University of Leicester, De Montfort University, and Loughborough University.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sulets Student Housing Fully furnished shared student houses for groups of 2–8 people, ranging from self-contained flats with en-suite facilities to houses with communal living spaces, regularly inspected and managed by Sulets. Available on 44, 48, or 51 week tenancies at £80–£115 per week, with optional bills packages. Targeted at undergraduate and postgraduate students in Leicester and Loughborough.
• Sulets Student Studios Modern, self-contained studio accommodations for independent student living in Leicester, with en-suite facilities, equipped kitchens, desk, chair, TV, and free Wi-Fi on 44 or 51 week tenancies at £133–£199 per week; many have all-inclusive bills. Designed for postgraduate or upper-year students seeking private space near campus.
• Student Roost Halls of Residence Purpose-built student accommodation (studio and shared apartment rooms with gym, social spaces, on-site staff) offered through Sulets' channel partnership with Student Roost, with all bills included and 24-hour support, for students wanting halls-style living in Leicester.
• Sulets Leased Service A comprehensive property leasing service where landlords lease their property to Sulets for a fixed term; Sulets sub-lets to students, guarantees rent, and manages day-to-day operations, including maintenance and compliance. Exempt from the Renters' Rights Act, enabling fixed-term tenancies. Fee is 10% no VAT for first tenancy, 15% no VAT thereafter, with a £300 float for minor repairs.
• Short-Term Accommodation Individual rooms offered on a short-term, immediate-move-in basis for students who need urgent or flexible accommodation while securing a longer-term tenancy.
• Maintenance and Repairs Services 24-hour emergency hotline plus tiered repair response: emergencies within 24 hours, urgent repairs within 5 working days, non-urgent repairs within 28 working days. Included for tenants in Sulets-managed properties and used to maintain the inspected portfolio.
• All-Inclusive Bills Packages All-inclusive utility packages covering gas, electricity, water, broadband, and TV licence, delivered by partner The Student Energy Group, with green electricity options and a tree planted for each signup; available on selected properties alongside Sulets' no-hidden-costs halls offering via Student Roost.
• Referral Programme Reward programme offering £250 Amazon voucher for each successful house tenancy referral and £100 for halls referrals, designed to drive word-of-mouth demand for student accommodation in Leicester and Loughborough.

Quantifiable outcome

• 95.71% of students would recommend Sulets to other students (2026 survey)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• De Montfort Students' UnioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011Founding member of the Sulets joint venture. De Montfort Students' Union was instrumental in establishing Sulets in 2011 as a not-for-profit student accommodation agency. The union continues to play a role in operations and governance.
• Leicester Students' UnioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011Founding member of the Sulets joint venture alongside De Montfort Students' Union. Provides ongoing student advocacy and governance representation.
• University of LeicestercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrong support from University of Leicester for student accommodation recommendations. Listed as partner on Sulets website with direct marketing access to students.
• De Montfort UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrong support from DMU with Sulets office located on campus. DMU students have access to Sulets accommodation services through university endorsement.
• Loughborough UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLoughborough University is the only student accommodation agency that officially endorses Sulets. Sulets expanded to Loughborough with this university endorsement.
• The Student Energy GroupminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner for competitive bills packages including gas, electricity, water, broadband, and TV licence. Provides green electricity options and plants a tree for each signup.
• Rent GuarantorminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRecommended guarantor service for international students who do not have a UK-based guarantor meeting standard requirements.
• Student RoostcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorStudent Roost owns managed accommodation buildings (Upperton Road, Queens Court, Newarke Street, Regents Court, Brookland Road) with Sulets handling bookings and tenant management.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• CRM Students: UK-based student accommodation provider operating in multiple university cities with both PBSA and shared housing. Directly comparable mix of student-facing services and landlord management to Sulets.
• Hello Student: UK student accommodation operator focused on city-centre PBSA in 20+ university locations. Comparable in serving students seeking managed, all-inclusive accommodation near campus.
• Homes for Students: UK student accommodation provider offering PBSA and shared housing across 60+ cities. Closely comparable business model of managed student lettings with a similar focus on landlord partnerships and tenant services.
• Host Students: UK student accommodation operator with PBSA and shared housing across several university cities. Comparable all-inclusive bills model and tenant experience to Sulets.
• Nicholas Humphreys: UK student letting specialist with branches across multiple university cities. Competes directly with Sulets on student house marketing, tenant finding and landlord management services.
• Student Roost: Major UK purpose-built student accommodation operator. Directly comparable to Sulets as both serve university students with managed lettings; Sulets even manages bookings for Student Roost's Leicester halls (Queens Court, Upperton Road, Newarke Street).

Broad incumbents

• iQ Student Accommodation: UK-wide PBSA operator with ~30,000 beds across 27 cities. Targets similar student tenants with modern studios and cluster flats, competing with Sulets for the premium end of the Leicester/Loughborough student market.
• Unite Students: Largest UK PBSA provider, operating ~70,000 beds across multiple university cities including London, Bristol, Leeds and Durham. Competes with Sulets for the same student demographic but at a much larger, national scale with purpose-built product.

Regional players

• CPS Lettings: Leicester-based residential lettings agency with a student accommodation focus. Direct local competitor to Sulets in the same city, competing for the same landlords and student tenants in LE1/LE2/LE3 postcodes.

Others

• Unipol (Student Homes): Not-for-profit student housing accreditation and advisory body. Comparable mission (student welfare, ethical lettings), and Sulets' Operations Manager Emma Fox was a consultant for Unipol prior to joining, indicating operational similarity in housing standards oversight.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SULETS
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@sulets
• Facebookfacebook.com/suletsleicester
• Instagraminstagram.com/sulets
• TikToktiktok.com/@sulets

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 STUDENT UNION LETTINGS