Uniplaces38 reviews
This score is based on 38 genuine reviews submitted via US-Reviews since 2023.
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Find companies you have experience with and write reviews about them! Your reviews contribute to a more transparent market and improve the reliability of companies.Almost quit, then okay
sparse listings, sketchy photos, I was this close to walking away. Then a landlord actually fixed a plumbing mess the same day, and after a week of back-and-forth support offered decent mediation and a partial refund. That’s the moment I went from annoyed to satisfied. Not perfect, but it worked in the end — would use again, cautiously.
Almost lost €585 — ended up ok
I was pacing the kitchen the night before paying, had this gut feeling like I’d be out €585 and another sketchy site had done that to me before. So yeah, I hesitated, called a friend, read threads, almost bailed. In the end I went through and, against my worry, the money came back — not instantly, but after I pushed, filed a report and actually spoke to someone. It wasn’t perfect, communication was spotty and I had to nag a bit, but I’m honestly relieved. Feels good to have been wrong about the worst-case. If you’re nervous like I was, document everything and don’t ignore it — persistence helped me get my cash back. Happy it worked out.
Confirmed... until it wasn't
they canceled the reservation. They offered a discount and not much else, so I rebooked on the same site, which again looked official. Two days before my flight they canceled that one too. Ended up in a last-minute hotel and paid way more. Using the platform feels like walking on thin ice: the interface is easy and clear, but their vetting of landlords is weak and someone can pull out with little consequence. First impression was trustworthy and smooth; the reality was stressful and costly. Not a total loss — I did find another place listed there — but I wouldn’t trust them for anything time-sensitive.
Booked an apartment, got a room — it wasn't all bad
Funny thing — I thought I reserved an apartment and ended up with a private room. Yeah, that was my mistake, but still, the whole price vs. fees thing caught me off guard. The listing showed one total, then they asked for a deposit and prepayment for future months, and their "nonrefundable" admin fee turned into a surprise €750 charge... I was skeptical, really annoyed, and nearly canceled. I went ahead and canceled, accepted the hit, but the room itself felt fine — small, clean, bed okay, curtains did the job. If you use this, double-check the cancellation window (they want 60 days), ask about deposits, and save screenshots. Not perfect service — communication was slow — but the space lived up to basic expectations. Honestly it worked out — I learned to be careful.
Money-on-hold annoyance
I found this site in a Facebook housing group and even recommended it to a friend who was moving — wish I hadn’t, well, not entirely. The booking UI is actually neat and easy, but the moment you hit request they put a full hold on your card. They call it a “hold” not a charge, sure, but your cash is frozen. If the landlord says no they don’t actively release it, they just wait for the hold to drop off (up to two weeks). Tried WhatsApp support and it’s basically a bot that tells you to contact your bank — when it’s clearly on their end. So useful in parts, but having your funds stuck for days? Stressful, and customer help is pretty much non-existent.
Listing-switched-on-me
Weird situation — after I booked a room in Madrid the listing link stopped working and redirected to a different page with no en suite mentioned. I waited three days for a contract and when it arrived the bedroom details were still wrong. I tried to cancel but it was past their 24 hour window, so I ended up out of pocket for around £1500. Customer support went silent after a couple of messages, which was the worst bit. I've used other sites where teams answered within hours, so this felt sloppy and borderline dishonest. On the bright side I managed to find another place quickly so I wasn't stranded, so that made me a bit relieved. Still, I'd warn others — check screenshots, save everything, and be wary of this site. Also their delivery of the contract felt random and messy, not great.
Left scrambling five days before move‑in
Woke up five days before we were supposed to move in and everything had fallen apart — that’s the short version. We’d booked a 5‑month flat for three international students; it got cancelled out of the blue. Landlord tried to offer a different place at roughly double the listed price, and then the platform itself cancelled that option without asking us. We sent tons of emails, begged to talk to someone on the booking team, and only got a phone call two days before move‑in. Felt like we were firefighting non‑stop. The money—€4,750 for the first month—is still tied up and we’re even looking at legal steps. I’ve had better luck with other rental sites in the past, so this was disappointing. Not everything is broken, but the process gave us a lot of stress and uncertainty.
Small win after a messy start
clunky site, confusing terms, and yeah I muttered a few curse words. Used the place for a month while moving cities, so I cared about the deposit and communication. The surprise came when they actually followed up, pushed the landlord for receipts, and sorted a partial refund I wasn’t sure I’d ever see. Not everything was perfect — I had to nudge them, and the landlord wasn’t quick — but that 2 AM message made me relax for the first time. So I’ll say I’m satisfied now; not blindly happy, but relieved. If you’re wary like I was, keep a paper trail and pester politely — it helped me.
Late-night contact ruined my trip
30 pm on the day I was supposed to check in. That late contact threw the whole plan off: I didn’t want to roll up to a place with zero proper communication, so I ended up scrambling to find an Airbnb at the last minute and paying way more than I expected. The platform itself was fine to navigate and the booking went through without a hitch, so that part gets a pass, but their handling of refunds and support was weak. I asked for a refund because this felt like a breach of what was promised, mentioned that I was sick and just didn’t want to deal with the stress, and after a bit of back-and-forth the replies dried up. It’s the radio silence that angers me more than anything — feels like they’re hoping people will give up chasing the money. So yeah, heads up: the interface is okay, the people are not.
Late-night panic, nice recovery
I almost bailed on this whole thing. I had major doubts because the landlord didn’t send the contract until 10:30 pm on check-in night — I was exhausted, kind of stranded with my bags and thinking “no way.” I’ve had hosts ghost me before, so I was bracing for the worst. But after a messy start, things smoothed out. I messaged support and they actually jumped in, nudged the landlord and helped confirm the keys — it wasn’t perfect, they were slow at first, but they did follow through. The admin fee still annoyed me (felt steep for a short stay), and that part didn’t change, so price-wise I’m meh. Emotionally I went from stressed and a little furious to relieved, honestly. The place itself was fine, exactly as listed, and getting in was quicker than I expected once paperwork landed. Would I use them again? Yeah, but I’d nudge earlier and be ready for a late-night ping. So, not flawless, but overall a decent rescue job — glad it turned out okay in the end.
Night on the street taught me a lesson
it wasn’t. I ended up waiting outside with my bags for about 10 hours, getting updates that never really came, and only got the check‑in details from the landlord at 10:30 PM. By then I was cold, tired, and yes, I got sick. I tried to trigger the advertised 24‑hour refund, showed them everything, but the company basically shrugged and blamed me, even though the contract needed updating and they’d signed off on it. They wouldn’t refund me, and they didn’t cover the emergency night I had to book. I’ve alerted the local police and I’m preparing complaints — not a great way to spend a week. On the upside, this whole mess taught me to be way more cautious: don’t sign anything without getting written confirmation, take timestamps/screenshots, and have a backup place ready. If you’re on the fence about booking with them, trust that gut feeling. I’m annoyed, sure, but at least I’m not repeating the same mistake. If anyone else had similar trouble, reach out — sharing what worked for me might help you avoid the same headache.
Sketchy landlord, weak platform support
mornings with no hot water, weird comments from the owner, and one time I noticed a camera pointed where it definitely shouldn't be. When I moved out she accused me of entering her room and using her stuff, and then refused to give back the cash deposit. She'd recorded me without asking, which felt wrong and probably illegal. I reached out to Uniplaces and honestly didn't get real help — they wouldn't publish my review on their site and their responses felt pointless. I'm relieved I didn't lock into a longer lease and glad I found another spot, but the whole thing left a bad taste. I've filed complaints with consumer protection and tenant groups. If you're thinking of booking, trust your gut, insist on documented payments, and have a backup plan.
Hidden fees wrecked this for me
don’t trust the price they show, because it might not be the real one — I learned that the hard way. I’m a student, moving for classes, with a pretty strict budget, so when I saw a room listed for a total of €1,350 all-in I jumped on it. I needed a place fast and that number fit, so I reserved and paid. Then, out of nowhere, the owner messages saying I also owe €1,500 more — so suddenly it’s €3,000 total. I was floored. For me that was simply impossible, no way I could cover it, and I told them immediately I couldn’t accept the room. They basically shrugged and said it was “written” if you clicked a tiny arrow. That felt like cheating, honestly. What surprised me, weirdly, was that before payment everything looked honest — photos matched, the neighborhood was great and replies were fast — so I really didn’t expect this bait-and-switch. I tried to get a refund, explained I can’t move in, pleaded a bit, and they refused to return my €1,350. It’s frustrating and stressful, especially as a student on a deadline. I wouldn’t go through them again and I’d warn others to read every little line — even the stuff in tiny print — and maybe ask for confirmation of the final total in writing before paying. If they’d been upfront, I’d have been fine, but this felt dishonest and hurtful.
Same-day booking gone sideways
screenshot everything, call immediately, and be ready to push. I wish they’d have a real human check these kinds of cases instead of hiding behind “you clicked.”
That breath of relief — finally able to quit holding my breath
wait. Wait. So we waited, sort of, while watching paint peel, or actually, watching mold grow, while getting nowhere.
After a frantic few hours of calls and searching, a friend helped us find emergency accommodation. That’s when the weird relief hit me — not because the company suddenly fixed anything, but because I finally had a dry bed and could breathe. That tiny moment — lying on a mattress that didn’t feel like a sponge — was when I knew we were going to be okay, even if UniPlaces didn’t step in. We had to pay for everything ourselves and their refund process was, well, unhelpful; they kept saying we hadn’t followed steps even though we had screenshots and timestamps. So, lesson learned: document everything, don’t assume the platform has your back, and have a backup plan. If you end up here, push hard, take photos, and get a friend ready to help you out. Emotionally it was rough — felt abandoned and annoyed — but that first good night’s sleep was oddly reassuring.Quiet red flags
I found this listing when I was juggling classes and a part-time job, trying to secure a room for the semester. On paper it promised quick student bookings and an easy process — in practice it felt like the opposite, a lot more friction than help. The site pushes you to confirm things fast (probably so they can lock a service fee), and I ended up paying a nonrefundable fee and first month rent before I really had time to check details. That hit my budget — and that’s the thing, as a student I don’t have a buffer for surprises, so that felt rough.
Not what I expected
document everything, be persistent, and maybe have a backup plan before you hand over cash. I'm a little relieved I got out of it without losing even more time, but it's left a bad taste. Hopefully they improve, or at least people read this and think twice. Good luck — seriously, be cautious and keep receipts (and screenshots) of every conversation.
The moment I finally relaxed
I was using the platform to find a place for my mom while she was in town helping me with a few things, and this whole move had to fit around my work-from-home routine and kid drop-offs. So yeah, it mattered a lot that things didn’t spiral.
The early days were rough. I ran into what looked like fake invoices and a landlord who was, at best, sloppy and at worst dishonest. Customer support was hit-or-miss; I had long waits, and a rep basically told me they only connected people — not exactly the reassurance I wanted. I kept documenting everything, sending screenshots, receipts, police report numbers, the whole mess. I kept thinking, “this is ridiculous,” and I said that out loud more than once.
What surprised me, though, was the way a few small, unexpected things lined up. A community forum thread I posted in turned into a real resource — other renters sent template letters and tips, and that was honestly a relief. Then a local authority followed up faster than I’d hoped; they asked clear questions and that brought some structure. That email I mentioned contained a timeline from the landlord with corrected dates and a proposal to resolve at least part of the deposit dispute. Not a full win, but actual movement. I’m not thrilled with the platform’s slow escalation or how long it took to get anyone to take responsibility, but I am relieved that persistence and a little outside pressure produced results.
Would I use the service again? Maybe, but not blindly. I’d double-check every listing, ask for extra documentation up front, and keep copies of everything. The whole thing taught me to be more stubborn and more meticulous — and that small community help can really tip the balance when companies drag their feet.Room fell apart, trust did too
quick booking, straightforward listing, the usual photos. The “checked” tag made me think someone had actually seen the place, you know? Not perfect, but good enough for a short stay. That sense of being safe is what mattered to me, honestly.
A few days in, the ceiling in my room collapsed while I was sitting there. Just dropped down. Lucky? I guess I was in the right spot to avoid worse harm, but it was terrifying. I remember the noise, the dust, and that weird wave of disbelief — like, how does a “checked” place do this? That moment erased any trust I had left in the whole process.
Using the platform felt normal up to that point: easy search filters, decent photos, calendar was clear. But the “checked” label turned out to be meaningless in practice. After the incident, reaching support took forever (and felt like hitting a wall). When they finally responded, the answers were vague and nobody seemed to take responsibility. Then I later noticed the listing back up, still marked as “checked.” That was the part that really rubbed me the wrong way — not just the danger, but the nonchalance about it. It’s one thing to have a maintenance issue, another to ignore a potentially life-threatening hazard and put someone else at risk.
I’ve used other sites where a rep actually visited or did an inspection, and while those weren’t flawless either, there was at least follow-up. Here it felt like a checklist item that got ticked off and forgotten. I asked for a refund of the service fees and for some sort of compensation because this was more than inconvenience — it was stress and a real safety lapse. The reply was slow and not particularly helpful. So yeah, mild anger mixed with disappointment. I wanted to like this platform; the UX and booking flow are smooth, but the safety side? Not dependable.
If you’re thinking of booking, double-check everything, text the host, ask for recent photos or proof of inspection, and don’t treat that “checked” tag as a guarantee. I hope they tighten up their processes; people shouldn’t feel at risk when they’re just trying to find a room.Horrible service
The service was terrible. They were nowhere to be found. Per the contract, they were supposed to give me back my deposit within a month of the lease ending. But the owner refused for no good reason and I was left high and dry. I even wrote a bad review for them, but it never got posted online. With such a high cost for such a lousy service, I'm extremely let down.
About Uniplaces
An online marketplace is defined as a form of an e-commerce site, where many third parties offer services or products information, while the operator of the marketplace processes transactions. Online marketplaces are the main type of multichannel e-commerce and a way that streamlines the production process. Usually, online market places work in such a manner that consumer transactions are processed by the operator of the marketplace and then fulfilled and delivered by the participating wholesalers or retailers.
About Uniplaces
Based in Lisbon, Uniplaces is an online market place that specializes in booking accommodation for students. It was launched in 2012 by Mariano Kostelec, Ben Grech, and Miguel Amaro. The platform had as of October 2015, served students from over than 140 countries who have booked for over 500,000 total nights. The three co-founders of the company met at King's College London and the University of Nottingham. The co-founders took part in Lisbon's startup weekend, creating the platform's first version.
Products and services of Uniplaces
Uniplaces launched as a platform having university-specific research, permitting students to search directly for properties that are suitable for their university. Currently, the site is free for real estate agents and landlords to add any property listing, and also student searching for accommodation aren't charged. The platform charges a commission of the total contract value to the property manager while the student is charged a service fee after a booking is accepted.
Compliments, complaints, and tips for Uniplaces
The site has been subject to criticism. It has explicitly been condemned for applying Guerilla marketing tactics, which comprise of activities such as posting links to offers on its sites to multiple Facebook groups that deal with apartment offers in Germany. The company also uses some well-received tactics, such as providing universities with customized accommodation portals, and in turn, the universities directly promote to their students. If you have used their products, leave a review on allreviews.ca.
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Last update: November 2025
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Review with most votes
My Experience with Uniplaces
I have been a client of Uniplaces for over a year now and I have been extremely satisfied with my experience. The platform is user-friendly and easy to navigate, making it easy ... Read onBy: Amanda Kuvalis