In the lead-up to the commencement of the upcoming academic year, student accommodation takes centre stage, but not without its share of concerns. The National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) is sounding the alarm bells, cautioning that the Renters Reform Bill could deliver a heavy blow to this particular sector.

The NRLA emphasizes that the proposed elimination of fixed term tenancies, a key provision within the Renters Reform Bill, might inadvertently push student landlords into uncertain territory. The switch to open-ended tenancies, where landlords lack a clear understanding of when a tenant might choose to vacate the premises, has raised eyebrows within the industry.

In a blog post featured on the NRLA’s official website, the association highlights the added complication of the impending repeal of Section 21. This current provision grants landlords the authority to serve eviction notices to tenants. Without this safety net, both students and their landlords face an unsettling dilemma – the inability to guarantee property availability to incoming student tenants at the commencement of each academic year. Such reforms, critics argue, could destabilize the well-established framework of student housing.

Seeking alternatives to these potentially disruptive changes, the association has engaged in discussions with the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. Among the proposals on the table is the introduction of a mandatory ground for possession. This legal foundation would enable landlords to reclaim their properties when necessary. Additionally, a proposed moratorium on tenants serving notice aims to provide a degree of predictability for both landlords and tenants. The moratorium period, carefully designed to balance stability and flexibility, seeks to ensure a minimum tenancy length.

Collaborative efforts are also underway as the NRLA collaborates with student landlords and higher education institutions to garner broad support across the sector. Industry voices, including Neil Young, chairman of We Are Kin, a prominent student housing landlord, are speaking up. Young stresses the importance of assurance for students regarding the availability of housing at the beginning of the academic year. He argues that without the implementation of a mandatory ground for possession alongside a moratorium on tenant notices, the risks would simply become insurmountable. The potential outcome, Young warns, might involve student landlords exiting the market altogether, to the evident detriment of students and the broader higher education landscape.

As the Renters Reform Bill’s implications continue to reverberate, the future of student accommodation remains uncertain. The NRLA’s concerns underscore the need for carefully balanced reforms that both protect tenants and provide stability for landlords, preserving a vital cornerstone of the education experience.