The upcoming Renters Rights Bill risks exacerbating current student housing shortages, according to the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA).
The bill is currently being debated in the House of Lords after passing through the House of Commons.
Debating the bill, House of Lords housing minister Baroness Taylor of Stevenage explained that the bill includes a possession ground to “allow the cyclical nature of the student market to continue and provide landlords with confidence.”
This allows students living in HMOs to be evicted in line with the academic year, with the exemption limited to HMOs with three or more bedrooms.
According to Baroness Taylor, this “captures the bulk of typical students”.
However, the NRLA points to data from accomodationforstudents.com that suggests one and two-bedroom properties account for around a third of student accommodation.
The NRLA has welcomed the government’s recognition that the student rental cycle must be catered for in new legislation, but the landlord advocacy group has warned the current exemption will not help stabilise rents.
“These properties make up a significant part of the student housing market and are often preferred by final-year and postgraduate students looking for quieter places to live and study,” said Ben Beadle, CEO at the NRLA.
“The government’s justification for excluding these homes is misplaced.
“We recognise the need to ensure security for part-time students, student parents and other vulnerable tenants, but excluding smaller student homes from Ground 4A does nothing to support them.”
The NRLA is now urging the government to reconsider this at report stage and ensure all student homes, regardless of size, are covered by Ground 4A.
Ben added: “If landlords are not confident they can regain possession in time for the next academic year, many will stop letting to students altogether.
“The result will be fewer homes, higher competition, increased rents, and less choice for students.”
