The Renters’ Rights Act risks breaking the annual student lettings cycle and restricting the availability of homes for the next academic year, according to NRLA’s CEO Ben Beadle (pictured).

When the act largely comes into force on 1st May, student HMO landlords using the student possession ground (Ground 4A) must give four months’ notice. It means they will not be able to take back possession until the first week of September, after the start of the traditional student rental year.

Breaks housing cycle

Together with student housing platform Accommodation for Students, UniHomes, and the Young Group, Beadle warns that this cuts straight across the established student housing cycle.

Student tenancies typically end in late June or July, allowing landlords time to regain possession, carry out essential works and re-let properties for a 1 September start. The new timetable removes this window entirely and prevents the timely turnover of stock for the next cohort.

He says the consequence is that landlords “cannot guarantee that their properties will be empty for new students to move in”, creating a serious mismatch between when homes become available and when students need them.

The Government has put opportunity and aspiration at risk with this decision.”

Access to housing is already a key concern for students, with Knight Frank research showing 65% of applicants say accommodation availability shapes where they choose to study and, even before the changes, several university towns and cities have had to declare housing emergencies.

According to Beadle: “The Government has put opportunity and aspiration at risk with this decision. The failure to protect the annual cycle of all student housing will shut people out of higher education and make it harder for others to plan where they will live.

“Limiting access to accommodation doesn’t just affect students. It will be of particular concern to many universities already facing difficult financial futures.”