canvas-student.com Reviews 15

We pay an absolutely ridiculous price as students as for a studio room and don’t even get running water from our tabs. Every problem either water or other technical problems are not one time but persistent. They cant even temporarily fix the issues let alone a permanent solution. We have left without water for more than 24 hours. This is unacceptable.

Elevator constantly broken, water cut once every three months for three days.

Really disappointing experience. Elevator was out for almost a month, didn’t have water for over 2 days and they kept lying and shifting the blame to the municipality or the water provider when it was really an issue with the building’s water system itself. The gate to the garage also wasn’t working a lot of the time. They also don’t communicate or handle these issues very efficiently. When I’m paying almost 1500 per month as a *student*, I expect better.

24h without water and no information when it will be back….

we’ve had a water outage for almost 2 full days with no communication from the staff, everything we know about it we basically had to hunt down ourselves. with the exorbitant rent and utilities costs this is absolutely ridiculous and unacceptable behavior. at least send out an email or something instead of leaving us to fish for information!

Exponential curve on the rent while constant issues with elevators breaking, doors breaking compromising security, days long water cuts, and many other issues with 0 transparency, poor communication, yet very strict with matters that do not concern them. Great building that is being run down by poor management, not worth the rent anymore

AVOID
defect garage doors, broken elevators and no water for a weekend happens way too often. management doesnt even bother updating me about ongoing issues and no rent reduction. no one cares. 1400€ rent.

Disgusting behaviour from staff. Awful persistent noise problems that ruined my sleep so badly that it became a medical issue (which Canvas did not care about at all). I got the council and the police involved due to these noise and drug problems but nothing was ever resolved. Staff would argue with me and hang up the phone on me at night, one member even pointed out my room to the offending group putting me in danger. There have been multiple thefts reported at Canvas - cash, jewellery, expensive cameras etc. and my kitchen became infested with mice in November. A third-party tradesman entered my double-locked room without my permission while I was in the shower and Canvas showed little remorse, despite this being illegal. They quietly let me and my other British flatmate go in December as they knew they had broken their own contractual rules multiple times, but they won't let my international flatmate go without finding a replacement tenant - racism or greed? Don't live here!!!

Their website layout is horrible, and their whole booking process is horrible.
I never even finished my application or submitted it, and they started spamming me with emails about signing my lease, even though I never submitted my application? the whole company is sketchy, pushy, and unprofessional. Their payment plans are also bad and don't work for people who get maintenance loan money 3 times per academic year.

Stay away if you want peace and quiet!

Honestly, if you’re thinking about moving into Bristol Canvas, don’t. The place might look nice online, but the reality is completely different. Most nights there are groups of students hanging out in the courtyard shouting, blasting music, and even doing drugs. It goes on until the early hours and makes it impossible to sleep or study properly.

What’s worse is that management just doesn’t care. Complaints go nowhere, and nothing ever changes. They promise a “great student experience,” but it’s more like a nonstop party outside your window.

If you actually want to focus on uni and get some rest, look elsewhere — this place is a nightmare for anyone who values peace and quiet.

I stayed at Wembley Student Accommodation for one night (Aug 16–17) while attending the BLACKPINK concert, and it was an extremely disappointing and uncomfortable experience – especially for the £192.62 I paid.
1. Inappropriate Staff Behaviour
Upon check-out, the male receptionist made me feel incredibly uncomfortable. As a solo female traveller, I found his comments and questions highly unprofessional – including asking if I was single and then persistently requesting my phone number even after I made it clear I wasn’t interested. This made me feel unsafe and disrespected. Staff at any accommodation should never make guests feel this way.

2. Poor Room Hygiene
The room itself was far below acceptable standards. It was dusty and felt unclean. Worst of all, the towel provided had a large black curly hair on it – absolutely disgusting and clearly unhygienic. For nearly £200 a night, I expected at least basic cleanliness.

Honestly, I’ve stayed at better hotels (including Hiltons) for less money, and this experience felt like a total rip-off. I would not recommend this place to anyone – especially solo travellers. I'm currently waiting on a response from management regarding a refund or compensation, and if I don’t hear back soon, I’ll be escalating the matter further.

Avoid if you value your comfort and safety.

— Katie H.

I am staying at Canvas Manchester through Amber Student, but from the very first day, I have been facing serious hygiene and safety issues.

I have been here for 10 days, dealing with the same problems since I arrived. The shared kitchen is filthy — with moldy food, expired items from months ago, rusted dishes in the sink, and even a bloody tissue left on the counter. The fridge is full of food that clearly does not belong to current tenants, and the corridor has had the same garbage bag sitting there for over 10 days, making the whole area smell awful.

Despite reporting these issues multiple times with photographic evidence, no action has been taken. My customer representative has also not responded to me for days, and the situation remains exactly the same. This is completely unacceptable, and I would not recommend this accommodation to anyone.

I used to live at Cardiff Canvas – and it was truly one of the worst accommodation experiences I've ever had.

First of all, the building’s lift was broken for TWO MONTHS, and no one came to fix it. The entire building had to walk up the stairs every single day, and the management simply didn’t care. Even more ridiculously, they responded to complaints on Google Maps saying it was “the elevator company’s fault” – as if that absolves them of any responsibility. What a joke.

The staff were rude and dismissive, consistently ignoring emails and refusing to help, even when approached in person. They always had excuses, never solutions. Completely unprofessional and lacking accountability.

But the refund issue was the worst. I’ve been waiting for months to get back money that is rightfully mine. After filling out my refund form three times, I still haven’t received anything. Just silence. No updates, no explanations, no apologies. Only delays and excuses.

Cardiff Canvas is NOT a responsible landlord. They don't respect students, especially international ones. Avoid this place if you value your money, time, or basic dignity.

Will take your monies in full without a refund even though not stayed at the accommodation

I could report why these halls are not recommended (not the vibrant social hub advertised on website, serious health and safety issues etc) but ultimately my daughter left after less two months there and this review is on the subject of the tenancy takeover which ensued. The tenancy agreement you sign for this accommodation stipulates that you can progress a tenancy takeover if the student leaves mid-tenancy but what it does not tell you is the saga you must endure if this happens.

Firstly the onus is on the tenant to find a replacement - very difficult when typically the halls are far from home and , as a private individual, you have no contacts locally. Secondly, they do not allow you to discount the rent at your expense to attract a tenant (important if trying to attract a tenant mid-term.) Thirdly, they insist that any alternative tenant pays the full year rent up-front which is beyond the means of most and yet another barrier to getting an alternative tenant.

In my case, we eventually got an alternative tenant two months after my daughter vacated. Then the next saga began.

We paid a whole years' rent in September 2024 and the new tenant took over my daughter's room on 23rd January 2025. After jumping through endless hoops to get this tenant, I was promised in writing a refund of remaining rent in . It is now almost 2 months with no refund. I have now chased this on 9 separate occasions with repeated excuses about why this is not paid e.g. company policy to wait for 28 days (!!) ,there is a backlog etc. I am owed almost £7k in rent and they have also taken money from the new tenant who has my daughter's room. The amount owed is almost £7k. Beware of the halls themselves and do not expect it to be as advertised, If you do end up leaving, as my daughter and others did, prepare yourself for the fact that you will have a long wait to get your money back. Obviously when you owe them money, there is no leeway!