WIREDGOV

Reforms to student housing risk undermining access to higher education and making it harder for students to secure accommodation. 

That’s the warning from the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA), Accommodation for Students, UniHomes, and the Young Group as the Renters’ Rights Act enters the first phase of its implementation period. 

The NRLA, along with its other signatories, warn that under this new timetable, student landlords will be unable to guarantee available homes for the next cohort of student tenants, which not only disrupts the student housing cycle, but also means that landlords cannot guarantee that their properties will be empty in time for their start date. 

With the Renters’ Rights Act’s implementation date now confirmed, HMO student landlords who use the student possession ground (Ground 4A) shortly after 1 May (the start of the implementation period) will not be able to take back possession of their property until the first week of September, due to the 4-month notice period required under Ground 4A.  This implementation plan leaves a gap in which landlords cannot gain possession of their properties in time for August 2026, which is too late for incoming students, whose tenancies are set to start on 1 September.  

This will undoubtedly worsen the existing crisis in student accommodation, with access to housing already a key concern for students. According to research by Knight Frank, 65% of university applicants say accommodation availability influences where they choose to study.  

Commenting on the decision, Ben Beadle, Chief Executive of the NRLA said:  

“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.” 

Notes: 

• Whilst the Renters’ Rights Act allows Purpose Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) to continue with fixed term tenancy agreements, this will not include ‘off-street’ student housing. The Government has introduced a new ground for possession (Ground 4A) to enable landlords of qualifying Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) with three or more tenants to secure vacant possession so they can be assured that properties will be available to rent at the start of each year. This will not be applied to one-and two-bedroom student properties. 
• Accommodation for Students found that that 32% of all off-street student housing listings are one- and two-bedroom properties. 
• Approximately 25% of all properties listed on the UniHomes student property platform is one- and two-bedroom off street rentals, with over 95% of the enquiries on these properties being typical undergraduate students.  
• Data from Knight Frank reports that 65% of those applying to university for the first time said that the availability of accommodation had an influence on their decision on where to apply. 
• If you have any further questions in relation to this release, or would like to speak with a spokesperson, please contact the NRLA Communications Team at press@nrla.org.uk.