Homes for Students (HFS), the UK’s leading independent provider of Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA), has marked the end of the academic year with its best performance ever in two top student surveys. HFS are thrilled to announce its achieved GOLD status in both the Investor in Students and Global Student Living Index surveys, improving on its results year on year.
HFS is proud of the outstanding achievement of the Global Student Living Index (GSLI) GOLD accreditation for the second consecutive year. This prestigious recognition is a testament to the exceptional standards of accommodation, community and services provided across the extensive portfolio of properties under their management.
Following an unprecedented response rate in this year’s GSLI survey, where over 11,000 students participated, a significant increase from previous years, HFS has once again demonstrated its commitment to ongoing excellence. Remarkably, 78% of the respondents rated their living experience as good or very good, reflecting a high level of satisfaction among the residents.
In the recent GSLI survey held this spring, properties were assessed across seven key pillars including: Bedroom Quality, Value for Money, Student Care & Support, Environmental Impact, Internet Service, Condition & Quality of Accommodation, and Overall Management.
Not only did 10 properties achieve the highest GSLI PLATINUM accreditation, but an additional 44 properties attained GOLD status, underscoring a significant year-on-year improvement.
One such property achieving PLATINUM was Albert Place, a real gem in Newcastle’s thriving student accommodation scene. Albert Place has shown remarkable improvement in its GSLI results, leaping from a SLIVER rating in 2023 to a PLATINUM in 2024. This significant improvement is highlighted by a 50% increase in their Net Promoter Score, soaring from 24 to 48 within just a year. Such growth is a testament to the continuous efforts put into enhancing student satisfaction and living standards.
Albert Place in Newcastle, operated under the Universal Student Living portfolio boasts 134 beds and is strategically located being just a 16-minute walk from Newcastle University. Not just a place to stay; Albert Place is a community that ensures every student feels at home. The property, is an ideal choice for students who value convenience and easy access to local academic and social activities. Students and their families can take comfort in the consistently high ratings Albert Place receives across various platforms:
- Google Reviews: 4.5 / 5
- Student Crowd Reviews: 4.4 / 5
You can take a look at why students are happy to call Albert House ‘home’ during their academic journey.
Students in Stoke, Liverpool, Edinburgh, and Bournemouth also have reason to celebrate as several high-quality properties managed by HFS have received impressive accolades.
College Court, Stoke
College Court just 15-minutes walk from Staffordshire University has solidified its reputation for excellence. Managed by HFS, this property boasts 345 beds and has achieved the prestigious PLATINUM award in the 2024 GSLI results, up from GOLD in 2023.
With stellar feedback such as:
* Student Crowd rated No.1 in Stoke
* Google Reviews rating of 4.8/5 from 264 reviews
Limelight in Liverpool, is a brand-new property under the Prestige Student Living portfolio and has very quickly become iconic in the popular city of Liverpool. This property features 535 beds and achieved a PLATINUM rating in the 2024 GSLI survey. It boats:
- A perfect 5/5 Google reviews
- A high 4.5/5 rating on StudentCrowd.
- Student Crowd rated No. 1 in Liverpool
Located just a short walk from John Moores University and the University of Liverpool, Limelight offers an array of top-quality amenities such as a karaoke room, gym, cinema room, and a truly impressive sky lounge with unrivalled views of the city, making it a top choice for students seeking luxury and convenience.
Limelight, Liverpool
Again, back in Newcastle, Leazes Parade, part of the Essential Student Living portfolio, continues to impress with a GOLD rating in the 2024 GSLI survey, an upgrade from its SILVER status in 2023.
Leazes Parade, Newcastle
This property boasts:
* Google Reviews rating of 4.6/5
* StudentCrowd reviews of 4.5/5
Leazes Parade offers a range of amenities, including a communal lounge, garden, games room, and parking options, making it the perfect value for money solution for students attending Newcastle University or the University of Northumbria.
Our team at Goods Corner in Edinburgh, another property under Prestige Student Living, have also well and truly shined this year. With 108 residents, the property achieved a PLATINUM rating in the 2024 GSLI, a significant jump from SILVER in 2023.
Goods Corner, Edinburgh
Goods Corner enjoys a:
- Google Review rating of 4.4/5
- StudentCrowd rating of 4.4/5.
Good’s Corner currently takes the no. 5 spot in Edinburgh on Student Crowd. In fact, 8 of the top 10 spaces are occupied by properties managed by HFS.
Lastly, the iconic Mercury House in Bournemouth, managed by Universal Student Living, has earned a GOLD rating in the 2024 GSLI survey, up from SILVER in 2023. With 150 beds, this property boasts
- Student Crowd rated No. 1 in Bournemouth
- Google Reviews rating of 4.4/5
Located a short drive from Bournemouth University, Mercury House offers amenities like a common room, events, table football, and bike storage, providing students with a vibrant and supportive living environment.
Mercury House, Bournemouth
This handful of properties highlights the commitment to providing top-tier accommodation for students, ensuring a comfortable, convenient and community-focused home away from home, and assisting with an overall enjoyable university experience. The 2024 GSLI results particularly highlighted high praise for the quality of bedrooms and the exemplary care and support provided by the on-site property team.
This combination ensures a nurturing environment where students can thrive academically and socially. Over the next few weeks, HFS will share more spotlights on our successful GOLD and PLATINUM properties. HFS are also thrilled to be a finalist in two categories at the upcoming GSLI Awards, due to take place in October 2024. These much sort-after, prestigious awards are based 100% on direct feedback from tens of thousands of students worldwide.
HFS are proud finalists in these categories:
- Best Individual Property for College Court in Stoke-on-Trent
- Best Environmental Management for the Universal Student Living portfolio.
These nominations highlight HFS’s dedication to present and future environmental sustainability and to exceptional property management, setting a benchmark in the PBSA sector.
In addition to these notable achievements, HFS has also been recognised with the GOLD standard from Investor in Students for the third consecutive year marking it as the only PBSA provider to receive this honour.
In the next few weeks we’ll continue to shine a spotlight on GSLI celebrated properties.
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