Homes for Students Reviews

I had a good giggle reading through these reviews. Let’s just note a few things here. 1) All positive reviews where posted 4 months ago (current date 15th Dec 23) this is just about the same time where the ‘chosen ones’ in the company where sent letters promising rewards in exchange for 5* reviews. 2) 5 of these reviews written 4 months ago are from senior managers/directors. The rest of the reviews are either from well known people in the company who brown nose in the hope they’ll one day be promoted OR fake names that have never worked at this company When I first started for this company many years ago, I read one review on glass door which has stuck with me. It said something along the lines of ‘if your face doesn’t fit and when things turn bad, get out, quick!’ I didn’t understand at the time because HR team & senior management bang on about inclusivity and how they value their team. How wrong was I to believe this? You’re turned down from promotions you’re more than qualified for by racist senior managers because of the colour of your skin and the role will go to their favourite lap dog of the month. Homes for students is the most toxic company I have ever worked for. You work your back side off and get nothing in return. If your face doesn’t fit then you are quickly pushed out. I have spent many nights crying myself to sleep about what will happen on the next day or find myself checking emails on evenings, weekends, 3am, you name it! You end up a robot chained to a desk and cannot provide basic customer service to students or be available to your team. The work load at times is unbearable - there is no support and if you don’t get it done on time, you’ll find a letter from HR on your desk. It’s terrifying. I had many good friends over the years in this company and saw their mental health nose dive and eventually left due to the toxic clicky unprofessional culture. It’s soul destroying. When you contact someone for help, you’re ignored and serious allegations are brushed under the carpet. They lie to clients about how their money is spent and ignore them when they can’t be bothered to speak to them. Senior managers bad mouth and joke about their clients regularly (it’s not like these clients are effectively paying our wages, is it?) Students are promised booking promotion money and hardly ever get it, we’re just told to lie to them and hope they ‘go away’. Only managers and above are given bonuses, the front line team are given nothing and expected to be on call 24/7. Important actions on site take months to be seen to due to the high staff turn over company wide. Staff turnover at this company is mental and confidentiality is non existent - managers and senior managers gossip and share private information about their team. You’d think the HR director would stay out of the gossip wouldn’t you? How do I know this?? Because there Is a company wide problem with confidentiality. Files are available to see that shouldn’t be. The only way this company gets clients to sign on is because they promise big in the contracts and charge lower than other providers - once you’ve signed on you’re doomed. clients rarely renew their contract as HFS breaches their own contract for fun. Future clients, remember, cheap isn’t always best!! An old man’s club that will eventually run its self in to the ground. Honestly, I’m not even annoyed at this company anymore, I just want to warn anyone who many consider working or living with homes for students.

Wage Disparity: The company's minimum wage policy is perplexing given its substantial revenue. Managers earn £30-£35,000 annually, yet frontline staff fall short of the national living wage. The discrepancy is particularly ironic considering the company's emphasis on culture and perks. Unmerited Pay Raises: Job proficiency takes a back seat to manager favoritism when it comes to securing a pay raise. Merit seems to be eclipsed by personal connections. Overtime Compensation: The absence of overtime pay, replaced solely by time owed, feels inadequate in the current cost-of-living crisis. Extra income could significantly ease financial strains. Lack of Bonus Scheme: The absence of a bonus scheme is puzzling, especially considering the multifaceted role of staff encompassing receptionist duties, cleaning, customer advising, and more. While managers reap bonuses, frontline staff are limited to minimum wage. Limited Recognition: Positive efforts often go unnoticed, while mistakes are promptly addressed. A more balanced and appreciative approach to employee performance is evidently lacking. Solo Property Management: Straying from the designated role of a customer service advisor, staff find themselves managing properties alone, undertaking tasks beyond their scope. Unethical Work Requests: Employees are sometimes compelled to perform tasks meant for trained personnel, such as forging building checks. Safety Concerns: Inadequate security measures expose staff to potential dangers, including dealing with hazardous items left behind by individuals experiencing homelessness. Negligent Landlord Practices: The landlord's disregard for tenant well-being, evident in issues like mold, poor ventilation, and subpar amenities, raises serious concerns about their commitment to tenant satisfaction. Absence of Upper Management Appraisal: The lack of feedback or acknowledgment from upper management compounds the feeling of undervaluation among employees. Overburdened Property Managers: Property managers grapple with excessive workloads and property-related challenges, leaving little time to foster a sense of value among the staff they oversee. Self-Guided Training: New hires are left to navigate company systems, policies, and pricing independently, highlighting a lack of structured onboarding. Understaffing Concerns: Each staff member shoulders the workload of multiple roles, raising questions about the company's staffing approach and commitment to employee well-being.