What Is Uniplaces and How Does It Work?

Uniplaces is a verified student accommodation marketplace connecting international students and young professionals with landlords across Europe. You search, book, and move in — all online, all protected.

What is Uniplaces?

Uniplaces is an online platform where students, Erasmus participants, interns and young professionals find and book verified rooms, studios and apartments for medium-term rentals across Europe. Every listing goes through a review process before going live — so what you see is what you get.

With over 90,000 verified properties across 30+ European cities, it’s one of the largest student accommodation platforms on the continent.

How does it work for students?

Finding and booking a place on Uniplaces comes down to three steps.

  1. Search — Use filters to find rooms that match your budget, location and move-in date. You can search by city, neighbourhood or university name.
  2. Book — Send a booking request to the landlord. You add your payment details at this stage, but you’re only charged if the landlord accepts. For Instant Booking listings, your place is confirmed immediately — no waiting.
  3. Move in — Once confirmed, you receive your landlord’s contact details. On move-in day, you have 24 hours to check the property and flag any issues before the landlord receives your payment.

Why book through Uniplaces?

Uniplaces was born as an industry pioneer, built to offer students travelling abroad an affordable alternative to expensive short-term nightly rentals.

We unlock access to top-tier accommodation right next to major universities and city centres. Through our platform, you can secure a place where you’ll live, study, work and connect with a built-in community of international roommates.

To ensure a seamless experience, every landlord is fully verified. We also protect your stay with a 24-hour safety window after move-in, withholding payment from the landlord if the property doesn’t match your booking. Our dedicated support team handles the rest, ensuring a secure transition to your new adventure abroad.

Which cities are available?

Uniplaces covers 30+ cities across Europe. Some of the most popular destinations include Lisbon, Porto, Madrid, Barcelona, Milan, Rome and Berlin — plus cities like Seville, Valencia, Bologna, Toulouse, Hamburg and many more.

New cities are added regularly. The full list is available on the Uniplaces website.

Is Uniplaces safe to use?

Yes. Since 2012, Uniplaces has safely processed hundreds of thousands of bookings across Europe, becoming a trusted leader in student housing. Our community has rated us as “Great”, with a 4.1 score on Trustpilot across more than 11,000 reviews.

The UniTrust Guarantee is our commitment to your peace of mind. It ensures complete payment security, verified listing accuracy, and dedicated support if you ever need it. Your funds are held securely by Uniplaces and are only released to the landlord 24 hours after you safely move in, ensuring your transition abroad is smooth and protected.

To keep your booking fully protected by this guarantee, always complete your transactions directly on the official Uniplaces platform. We will never ask you to pay outside our website or via direct bank transfer, so please notify our support team immediately if a landlord requests an external payment, so we can assist you.

Frequently asked questions

Is Uniplaces free to use as a student?

Searching and browsing listings is completely free. A one-time service fee is added at checkout when you confirm a booking — you can see the exact amount before you pay.

Can I book without visiting the property first?

Yes — most bookings on Uniplaces are made remotely by international students. Listings include photos and detailed descriptions, and the 24-hour safety period protects you if the property doesn’t match what was shown.

What’s the difference between Uniplaces and a regular rental site?

Uniplaces specialises in medium-term rentals for students and young professionals. Landlords are verified, payments go through the platform, and you’re protected by the UniTrust Guarantee — none of which you typically get on a general classifieds site.

What happens if my landlord cancels after I’ve booked?

If a landlord cancels a confirmed booking, Uniplaces steps in to help you find an alternative and ensures you receive a full refund. Landlords who cancel face penalties, which keeps cancellations rare.

How long does it take to find and book a place?

You can find and book a place in a single session. For Instant Booking listings, confirmation is immediate. For regular listings, landlords have up to 48 hours to respond to your booking request.

Ready to find your accommodation?
Search rooms and apartments →

Related articles

Scroll to Top