The 2026 Rate Your Landlord Awards took place last night (Tuesday 14 April) at Leeds University Union’s (LUU) Pyramid Theatre, bringing together Leeds' best landlords and their tenants, partner universities' Students' Union representatives, Unipol and sector colleagues to spotlight standards in the city’s private rented sector.
The annual awards, based entirely on student reviews and ratings, recognises landlords and letting agents who provide safe, high-quality homes. Hundreds of student renters across Leeds contributed to this year’s results, sharing their real experiences with their landlords on issues ranging from maintenance and safety to communication and fairness.
The evening opened with speeches from LUU's Director of Engagement Doug Muzawazi, and Unipol's Chief Executive Sam‑Bailey Watts who spoke about the realities of the student rental experience in Leeds and the importance of student reviews and accreditation to help drive improving standards in student accommodation and the private rented sector.
Doug said:
"Rate Your Landlord is a platform that works because it harnesses something simple and powerful: honest peer feedback. When students share their genuine experiences, it creates accountability and it creates clarity. Landlords who invest in their properties, maintain them well, and treat their tenants fairly deserve to be recognised. And they are, through this scheme. That recognition matters."
The evening then moved onto the award presentations, which were presented by LUU's Amara Relf (Union Affairs and Communications Officer) and University of Leeds student Lucy Hart (incoming Union Affairs and Communications Officer), Leeds Beckett Students' Union's Islam Elserougi (Undergraduate Officer), and Faisal Alsammarraie (Postgraduate Officer).
This year’s awards celebrated exceptional achievements in student housing, recognising those with the highest overall scores across several award categories which included a new category this year: 'Best Home Away From Home', chosen by the Students’ Unions elected officers through anonymised comments.
The full list of categories and winners can be seen below:
Full List of Winners & Runners Up:
- Highest rated landlord with 1 property reviewed
Runner Up: Alan and Nina Johnson
Winners: Chris Ross, Lidia Thompson, Katharine O'Carroll, Ruth Potter
- Highest rated landlord with 2-9 properties reviewed
Runner Up: Fab Student Homes - Mohammed Ikhlaq
Winners: John Tunstall, Graham Nichols
- Highest rated landlord with 10+ properties reviewed
Runners Up: Croft Properties - Gavin Whitehead, Sue Michaels - Leeds Student Homes
Winners: RST Builders - Ranjit Taak, Lingard Bell Ltd - Steve & Carol Rowley
- Best PBSA Provider
Runners Up: Downing Students, Harrisons
Winner: Study Inn
- Best PBSA Building
Runners Up: Cityside - Downing, St Marks Residences - University of Leeds
Winner: Brotherton House - Study Inn
- Best Managing Agent
Runners Up: Spencer Properties, Pickard Properties
Winner: Apex Homes - Waseem Bashir
- Best Home Away from Home
Runners Up: Lingard Bell Ltd - Steve and Carol Rowley, Katharine O'Carroll
Winner: Fab Student Homes - Mohammmed Iklaq
- Most Improved Landlord
Runners Up: Unipol, Pickard Properties
Winner: Collegiate AC
- Landlord of the Year
Runners Up: Croft Properties - Gavin Whitehead, Ruth Potter
Winner: Sue Michaels - Leeds Student Homes
Thank you to all for helping to make the awards evening a success and congratulations to all the runners up and winners!