At Loughborough University, Studentpad has been used to help create something truly special: the Landlord Awards. This programme recognises landlords who go above and beyond for their students, raises standards, and celebrates success in the private student accommodation sector.
Why It Matters
Safe, well-managed housing is one of the biggest concerns for students. By celebrating landlords who excel, Loughborough University:
- Rewards outstanding service
- Encourages high standards across the local market
- Reassures students that their accommodation is safe and reliable
- Strengthens the university’s relationship with landlords
As Gemma Lomas reflects in the Studentpad summary landlord Awards video:
“The response from our landlords when we awarded them the certificates was really heart-warming — when the landlords saw how much their hard work was appreciated by the students. I feel this initiative, where we are rewarding good service with positive recognition, is an excellent way to drive up standards in the private sector.”
Through Studentpad, all of this is simple to manage, from nominations to showcasing winners.
How the Awards Work
- Student Nominations
- Students nominate landlords who deliver exceptional service, maintain properties well, and support student wellbeing.
- Nominees are entered into various award categories, and students submitting nominations can also enter a prize draw.
- Landlord Recognition & Visibility
- Winners are prominently featured on the Studentpad site, giving them higher visibility and helping students identify top-rated landlords.
- This incentivises excellence and encourages other landlords to improve their service.
- Information & Engagement Event
- The awards are held alongside a Landlord Information Event, covering regulatory updates, rent guidance, and tenancy advice.
- These sessions strengthen communication and promote safe student housing practices.
- Media & Sharing
- Videos and photos from the event highlight the university and Studentpad, offering shareable content that showcases success and celebrates the partnership between students, landlords, and the university.
How Other Universities Can Replicate This
- Use Studentpad Fields to Manage the Awards: Collect nominations, track participation, and manage award categories easily.
- Showcase Successful Landlords: Feature winners on your Studentpad site and give them recognition badges to highlight excellence.
- Engage Students and Landlords: Combine awards with an event or session to educate, celebrate, and strengthen relationships.
- Leverage Media: Create videos or social media posts to showcase success and inspire other landlords.
Impact & Benefits
- Landlord loyalty & motivation increases
- Student confidence in housing grows
- Listings improve in quality and reliability
- Streamlined award management via Studentpad
- Marketing & promotion opportunities through video, social media, and featured listings
Key Takeaway
Celebrating outstanding landlords, engaging students in nominations, and leveraging Studentpad’s tools is an effective way to raise housing standards, promote student wellbeing, and build strong landlord relationships.
At this pivotal time for the student housing market, with the impact of the Renters’ Rights reforms, engaging with landlords and motivating them to provide safe, affordable, and high-quality accommodation is essential to ensuring strong, full year tenancies. This approach helps to prevent the breakdown of student tenancies and mitigate the potential impact on student wellbeing and academic success.
At Studentpad, we offer a range of tools to help students find the right accommodation, the first time. And if things don’t work out, we provide flexible mid-term options to support students in finding a place that truly suits them.
📽️ Check out this video from Gemma Lomas talking about how successful the awards were:
Watch the Landlord Awards Video
Post by Laura Walker (Marketing and Research Manager at The Pad Group)
