Landlords say smaller student lets must be excluded from renting reforms

Landlords have urged the government to amend the Renters’ Rights Bill to protect vital student housing.

The NRLA, alongside a coalition including Accommodation for Students and the Young Group, wants MPs to support a recent House of Lords amendment that would safeguard the annual letting cycle when the Bill returns to the House of Commons on 8th September.

A new ground for possession (Ground 4A) would enable landlords of qualifying HMOs with three or more tenants to secure vacant possession so they can be assured othat properties will be available to rent at the start of each year. But one- and two-bed student properties are excluded, despite these homes accounting for around a third of student accommodation, according to the NRLA.#

Compromise

It wants the government to retain a House of Lords amendment extending Ground 4A to one- and two-bedroom student homes, or to adopt the compromise proposal to apply Ground 4A to occupants rather than tenants to ensure families and dependents are protected.

It says if landlords don’t have the certainty that they can re-let these homes for the next academic year they are likely to move away from renting to students, reducing supply and limiting choice. The coalition warns that this would have serious consequences for access to higher education and, consequently, social mobility.

NRLA chief executive Ben Beadle (pictured) says without this change, the Renters’ Rights Bill will make it harder for landlords to offer one- and two-bedroom properties to students.

“This would break the student housing cycle, restrict choice, and risk undermining social mobility by limiting opportunities for students from all backgrounds,” he adds. “MPs have a final chance in September to protect the homes that make higher education possible – they must take it.”