200 Google Reviews, 5.0 Stars: Renting in Selly Oak with Unipads
200 Google Reviews, 5.0 Stars: Renting in Selly Oak with Unipads
200 Google Reviews, 5.0 Stars: What Students Say About Renting in Selly Oak with Unipads
In short: Unipads, the student landlord in Selly Oak, Birmingham, has passed 200 Google reviews with an average score of 5.0 out of 5. Every review is from a real tenant, most of them University of Birmingham students. This post looks at what those reviews actually say, what they tell you about renting a student house in Selly Oak, and why the rating matters more than any brochure.
Key takeaways
– Unipads passed 201 Google reviews in September 2026, with a 5.0 average across all of them.
– The three things tenants mention most are fast repairs, clear communication and feeling safe in the house.
– Reviews come from students on Dawlish Road, Tiverton Road, Hubert Road, Dartmouth Road and the other student streets of Selly Oak.
– Deposits returned promptly and landlords who answer a message the same day come up again and again.
– You deal directly with the landlords. There are no agency fees and no signing-up fees.
– The 2027/28 houses go live at the end of September 2026, and they go first come, first served.
Why does a 5.0 rating from 200 reviews matter when you are choosing a student house?
Anyone can write “quality accommodation” on a website. A Google review is different. It is written by a tenant, after they have lived in the house, usually after they have moved out and had their deposit back. Nobody at Unipads can edit it, and nobody can remove it.
That is why we are proud of this number. More than 200 students and other tenants have taken the time to rate us, and the average is 5.0. You can read every one of them on our Google profile (https://www.google.com/search?q=unipads+selly+oak).
We wrote last year about whether reviews matter (https://unipads.com/do-reviews-matter/) when you are house hunting. The short answer is yes, but only if you read what people actually wrote. So that is what this post does.
What do tenants say about repairs and maintenance?
This is the theme that comes up more than any other. Student houses get heavy use, and things break. What matters is how quickly they get fixed.
Shaam wrote: “Any maintenance request, big or small, was handled quickly and efficiently, and communication was always clear and respectful.”
Naomi W. lived in one of our properties for six years: “The property was well maintained, and any maintenance issues that came up were dealt with quickly and efficiently.”
El H. put it simply: “Andy was a lovely landlord who was quick at getting things resolved and was always a message away.”
Behind those comments is a full-time in-house maintenance team, plus plumbers and electricians we have used for years. We explain how it works on our Looking after you in Selly Oak (https://unipads.com/looking-after-you-in-selly-oak/) page, and every
house has a “Something Not Right?” guide so you know exactly who to contact.
What do tenants say about communication with the landlord?
With Unipads you are not dealing with a call centre or a letting agent who passes messages on. You deal with the landlords themselves, and you will usually have their WhatsApp number.
R. Derry wrote: “Their communication has always been clear and prompt, which makes everything so much easier. Any issues that were raised have been dealt with quickly, and it’s obvious they genuinely care about their tenants.”
Lauren M., who rented a one-bedroom flat for 18 months, wrote: “Super helpful, friendly, reliable, caring, professional, and communicative. Any (rare) issues, Andy and Leigh made sure to sort them straight away.”
We are contactable in the evening and at weekends. That is one of the questions on our FAQ page (https://unipads.com/faqs/), and the answer has been the same for 25 years.
Do students feel safe in a Unipads house in Selly Oak?
Parents ask this question more than students do, and it is a fair one. Selly Oak is a busy student area, and a house is only as safe as its locks, its lighting and its landlord’s attitude.
Sherlee A. lived with us in her second year: “I felt very safe, the house was clean, modern and had all the necessities.”
Every Unipads house has double glazing and double-locking doors, and most have a security alarm. We are accredited landlords and active members of the National Residential Landlords Association, and all of our houses comply with HMO regulations. There is more detail for parents on our Parent Zone (https://unipads.com/parents-zone/) page.
What happens to your deposit at the end of the tenancy?
This is where a lot of student landlords lose their good name. Every Unipads deposit is protected in a government-approved tenancy deposit scheme, and we aim to return it promptly once the house has been checked.
Scarlett M. wrote: “At the end of our tenancy our deposit was returned to us quickly without any issues.”
If you want to make that as easy as possible, our cleaning tips when moving out https://unipads.com/cleaning-tips-when-moving-out/) post tells you exactly what we look for.
What kind of houses are the reviews about?
Unipads has more than 150 houses and apartments in Selly Oak, with a few in nearby Stirchley and Bournville. They range from three-bedroom houses up to eight, and because many sit next door to each other we can house groups of nine, ten or more across neighbouring properties. Virtually every house has been fully renovated. Standard in every Unipads house:
Fully equipped kitchen with washing machine, fridge, freezer, cooker and microwave. Most have a dishwasher and tumble dryer as well.
– A TV in every house.
– Double glazing and gas central heating.
– Study bedrooms with a desk, wardrobe, drawers and bookshelves.
– Internet-ready lines.
Most of our houses are a 10 to 15 minute walk from the University of Birmingham’s Edgbaston campus. Our post on living in Selly Oak as a Birmingham student (https://unipads.com/living-in-selly-oak-student-guide/) walks through the streets and what is on the high street.
The 2027/28 houses go live on the website at the end of September 2026. If you are still weighing up halls against a house, read Halls or a Selly Oak house?
How do you rent a Unipads house for 2027/28?
Every year the best houses go early, and it is never too early to book, as we explained in When is it “too early” to book for next year’s accommodation? (https://unipads.com/when-is-it-too-early-to-book-for-next-years-accommodation/)
The process is simple:
1. Choose how many people are in your group and browse the houses for that size, for example our houses for five
or houses for six
(https://unipads.com/property_search_results/loc-all/prop-all/minp-0/maxp-0/bath-0/bed-6/type-tolet/sort-price/).
2. Add up to five houses to your viewing basket and send a viewing request. We will confirm by email or WhatsApp.
3. View as a group, decide, sign the tenancy online and pay the deposit. The house is then yours and comes off the market.
There are no administration fees and no finders’ fees. Full details are on our Next Steps (https://unipads.com/next-steps/) page.
Thank you to every tenant who has left a review. Two hundred of them, all honest, and a 5.0 average. We will keep earning it.
Frequently asked questions
How many Google reviews does Unipads have?
As of September 2026 Unipads has 201 Google reviews with an average rating of 5.0 out of 5. You can read them all on the Unipads Google profile. They are written by tenants, and Unipads cannot edit or remove them.
Are Unipads reviews from University of Birmingham students?
Most are. Unipads has specialised in student houses in Selly Oak for more than 25 years, and the majority of tenants study at the University of Birmingham. Some reviews come from postgraduates, students at other Birmingham universities and professional tenants in our apartments.
Does Unipads charge agency or signing-up fees?
No. You rent directly from the landlords, and there are no administration, finders’ or signing-up fees. You pay a security deposit, which is protected in a government-approved scheme, and your rent.
How quickly does Unipads deal with repairs?
Unipads has a full-time in-house maintenance team and long-standing plumbers and electricians. Fast repairs are the single most common theme across the 200 reviews. Every house has a “Something Not Right?” guide telling you who to contact.
When do Unipads houses for 2027/28 go on the market?
At the end of September 2026. Houses are let on a strictly first come, first served basis, so groups who view early get the widest choice.