Studentpad
Studentpad is a UK-based cloud SaaS platform, founded 1999, that helps universities, students' unions and local councils manage off-campus PRS student accommodation through landlord accreditation, property listings, and compliance workflows across the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1999
- HeadquartersBrough, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What Studentpad does
Studentpad, founded in 1999 and headquartered in Brough, East Yorkshire, is a cloud-based SaaS platform that helps universities, colleges, students' unions and local councils manage off-campus Private Rented Sector (PRS) student accommodation. The software delivers landlord and property accreditation schemes, branded student-facing housing search portals, safety certificate management, document handling, complaint logging, statistical reporting, and a student-facing House Mate Finder feature, with optional add-on modules covering Inventory, Property Review, Integrated Payments and Account Management. Architecturally, the platform is a web-based, customized-configurable cloud product with no installation requirement, hosted on ISO 27001-certified UK infrastructure (Fasthosts) and fronted by a Cyber Essentials-certified perimeter, and it is built on the same underlying technology as sister product Localpad within the Pad Group portfolio.
The business model is a B2B SaaS subscription sold primarily to public sector institutions on annual contracts, supplemented by an optional transactional landlord advertising fee that institutions can choose to charge landlords to list their PRS stock through the platform. Go-to-market is a consultative enterprise field-sales motion — website demo-booking, direct phone/email outreach, and face-to-face implementation and training — targeting risk-averse, procurement-driven UK, Irish, Australian and New Zealand buyers. Studentpad claims 100+ institutional customers (including Aston Students Union, Loughborough University, University of London, University of Southampton/Solent SASSH, University of South Wales, University of Cumbria, Liverpool Student Homes, UEA Students' Union, and a roster of UK local councils), self-reports 25 years of continuous operation, claims market leadership in Ireland, and cites CIH industry recognition. No external funding has been disclosed; the company operates as a subsidiary of Pad Group Software Ltd under founder/CEO Lloyd Cowburn with a 1–10 person team.
Studentpad firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Studentpad
- Legal name
- Studentpad Limited
- Website
- https://studentpad.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1999
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Studentpad is a UK-based cloud SaaS platform, founded 1999, that helps universities, students' unions and local councils manage off-campus PRS student accommodation through landlord accreditation, property listings, and compliance workflows across the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Studentpad industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Student Accommodation Management Software
- NAICS
- Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Support Services (61171)
- SIC
- Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Student Housing Technology & Systems Support (Housing ERP, Key/Lock Systems, Wi‑Fi Coordination) (EDAEAFAO)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Off-Campus Housing Support & Landlord Relations (EDALACAJ), Student Housing Property Management (BPAJAFAF)
Keywords
Where Studentpad is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Brough
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Studentpad business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- Software Subscription Services: Tailored accommodation management software delivered as a subscription service to public sector institutions including universities, colleges, and students' unions. Institutions can customize the platform to their specific requirements and may charge landlords to advertise their accommodation.
- Landlord Advertising Fees: Institutions have the option to generate additional revenue by charging landlords to advertise their available PRS accommodation through the platform.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Customized subscription packages based on institutional requirements |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels8 records
Studentpad product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Studentpad is a cloud-based, web-based software-as-a-service platform that helps public sector institutions — universities, colleges, students' unions, and local councils — manage off-campus Private Rented Sector (PRS) student accommodation services. The platform supports landlord and property accreditation schemes, property listings and search, landlord-tenant communications, safety certificate management, document handling, payments, and reporting, and is customized and branded for each subscribing institution.
Product overview
Studentpad is a cloud-based PRS student accommodation management platform delivered as a web-based software-as-a-service solution. The core Studentpad platform provides property listing management, landlord accreditation, student housing search, safety certificate management, document handling, messaging, and reporting capabilities. Optional add-on modules include Inventory, Property Review, Integrated Payment, and Account Management modules. Studentpad is part of the Pad Group, which also offers Localpad (local housing management), Hallpad (accommodation halls), and Safety Shaun (safety compliance) as related products.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Studentpad Platform Cloud-based, web-based SaaS platform for PRS (Private Rented Sector) student accommodation management, customized and branded per institution. Used by universities, colleges, students' unions, and local councils to manage landlord accreditation schemes, property listings, student housing search, safety certificate management, document handling, messaging, reporting, and landlord-tenant communications.
- Inventory Module Add-on module providing property inventory management functionality to protect students and landlords as part of the Studentpad platform.
- Property Review Module Add-on module providing property review and inspection workflows to support landlord and property accreditation.
- Integrated Payment and Account Management Module Add-on module providing integrated payment processing and financial account management to protect students and streamline transactions on the platform.
Quantifiable outcome
- 90% of customers rated Studentpad 'Excellent' or 'Very Good'
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Studentpad
Customer profileNamed customers18 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Studentpad technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature13 records
Studentpad partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Pad GroupcorePad Group is the parent company of Studentpad. Studentpad is part of the Pad Group, which is recognised as a leading source of modern, exciting, cutting-edge housing software. Pad Group launched its first software platform in 1999 and provides a suite of housing software products including Localpad, Hallpad, and Safety Shaun.
- LocalpadcoreLocalpad is a related product within the Pad Group suite. It is customized, web-based software tailored to the unique requirements of public sector housing organisations. The Studentpad platform is built on the Localpad technology.
- HallpadminorHallpad is a related product within the Pad Group suite, providing housing software for the public sector.
- Safety ShaunminorSafety Shaun is a related product within the Pad Group suite, providing safety-related housing software solutions.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Studentpad competitors and assessment
Company assessmentOthers
- StudentCrowd: UK student reviews and city/accommodation information site. Adjacent — provides housing-related content to UK university students — but not a direct SaaS competitor.
- Localpad: Sister product under Pad Group, providing housing software for local public-sector housing organisations. Comparable technology stack and customer base, but focuses on general (non-student) public-sector housing rather than student PRS.
- Hallpad: Sister Pad Group product providing software for student-hall management. Adjacent rather than competing — serves university-owned halls while Studentpad serves off-campus PRS — but shares technology and parent company.
Emerging players
- HousingAnywhere: International student-housing marketplace with listings across Europe. Comparable as a student-accommodation platform, but operates a global marketplace model rather than public-sector accreditation/management software.
- Amber Student: Global student-accommodation booking platform serving international students. Comparable in audience and category, but operates a consumer marketplace rather than a public-sector SaaS platform.
Broad incumbents
- Rightmove: UK's largest property portal with significant student listings. A broad incumbent in property search; comparable only as a channel for student landlords, not as a public-sector accommodation management platform.
- SpareRoom: UK's largest flat- and room-sharing platform with strong student user base. Overlaps with Studentpad's PRS search functionality but is a broad consumer marketplace, not a public-sector accreditation SaaS.
Direct peers
- UniHomes: UK student-accommodation search platform connecting students with accredited landlords. Directly comparable to Studentpad in target audience (UK university students and landlords) and category (PRS student-housing listings).
- Accommodation for Students: Long-running UK student-accommodation listings site serving universities and students searching for PRS housing. Closely comparable to Studentpad in user base, geography and property-listing functionality.
- Movebubbles: UK student-accommodation search platform working with universities and landlords to list PRS rooms. Direct peer in category, geography, and target audience (UK university students seeking off-campus housing).
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Studentpad social profiles
Digital presenceStudentpad compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Studentpad financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Studentpad leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Studentpad subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
Studentpad funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Studentpad 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 Studentpad
What does Studentpad do?
Studentpad is a cloud-based, web-based software-as-a-service platform that helps public sector institutions — universities, colleges, students' unions, and local councils — manage off-campus Private Rented Sector (PRS) student accommodation services. The platform supports landlord and property accreditation schemes, property listings and search, landlord-tenant communications, safety certificate management, document handling, payments, and reporting, and is customized and branded for each subscribing institution.
Is Studentpad a public or private company?
Studentpad is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Studentpad founded?
Studentpad was founded in 1999. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Studentpad based?
Studentpad is headquartered in Brough, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Studentpad make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Software Subscription Services are the primary driver. The others are landlord Advertising Fees.
Who are Studentpad's main competitors?
Others on record are StudentCrowd, Localpad and Hallpad. Emerging players are HousingAnywhere and Amber Student. Broad incumbents are Rightmove and SpareRoom. Direct peers are UniHomes, Accommodation for Students and Movebubbles.
Does Studentpad have an API?
No public API is recorded for Studentpad.
What industry is Studentpad in?
Studentpad's product category is Student Accommodation Management Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAEAFAO, Student Housing Technology & Systems Support (Housing ERP, Key/Lock Systems, Wi‑Fi Coordination), with a secondary code of EDALACAJ, Off-Campus Housing Support & Landlord Relations. Its NAICS code is 611710 and its SIC code is 7372.