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INDUSTRY NEWS
Renters' Rights: Student lets under the microscope in exclusive member webinar
Student landlords will be among the hardest hit by changes coming in under the Renters’ Rights Act.
The loss of the fixed term will cause huge headaches due to the unique nature of student lettings, which rely on the landlord getting vacant possession ahead of the start of the next academic year.
And while there will be a possession ground for student landlords with HMOs – ground 4a, under section 8 – this will not be available for student landlords with one or two-bedroom properties.
The 1st May implementation date for the new tenancy elements of the Renters’ Rights Act is also potentially problematic, with student landlords needing to take a different approach depending on when existing student tenancies expire.
If you use ground 4a shortly after 1st May, for example, you will be hit by the new four month notice period, meaning you will not be able to take possession until the first week of September – too late for the new cohort of students looking for a home at the start of the academic year.
Rent in advance
Changes limiting the amount of rent you can take in advance to a single month is also likely to disproportionately impact student landlords who commonly accept rent on a termly basis – something that is much more convenient for students paying out of term-by-term student loan payments. After the first month they will still be able to accept rent in advance - but cannot require it.
International students too, often prefer to pay their annual accommodation fee in full in advance, for peace of mind when away from home.
How can I navigate these changes – and ensure I am compliant?
This is where the NRLA comes in.
Our free member webinar on 7th January will outline what you need to do to prepare for the changes ahead, and how to make sure you meet your obligations under the new rules.
Our head of policy James Wood will outline the processes you will need to follow, with Bruce Evans, from our webinar sponsor and recognised supplier, RentGuarantor, exploring the best ways to manage guarantors in the student market, both for domestic and international students.
This will be followed by a live question and answer session – allowing you to quiz our experts on every aspect of the new rules as they relate to student tenancies.
How do I sign up?
The webinar will be held on Zoom on 7th January and will run from 11am-12noon. To book your spot click here.
To submit questions ahead of time email [email protected]
Full webinar programme
The student lets webinar is part of our fortnightly webinar series, designed to keep you up to date on all elements of the Renters’ Rights Act and how they will affect you.
All will include a live question and answer session after the presentations.
21st January: Lets with pets
Questions about new rules on renting to tenants with pets is the topic of our second webinar of the new year, scheduled for 21st January.
Under the new rules you will have to consider all requests for pets and cannot unreasonably refuse them. But what does this actually mean in practice?
This webinar will help you find out more about the changes are ahead, how you need to manage requests for a pet and what you can do to ensure you minimise risks of damage.
The webinar will be held on Zoom on 21st January and will run from 11am-12noon. To book your spot click here.
4th February: Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs)
With few specific provisions for houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) in the Act, we will be looking at ways you make sure your tenancies work effectively under the new rules.
The end of fixed terms, dealing with antisocial behaviour, and starting new tenancies, will all come under the microscope in the session.
The webinar will be held on Zoom on 4th February and will run from 11am-12noon. To book your spot click here.
18th February: Creating a new tenancy
With the Government due to release the details of periodic assured tenancy agreements next month we’ll be exploring how you can start new tenancies once the Act is in force from 1st May – and how to use our new tenancy agreements.
The webinar will be held on Zoom on 18th February and will run from 11am-12noon. To book your spot click here.
4th March: Ending a periodic assured tenancy
The abolition of section 21, the so called ‘no fault’ eviction, is one of the major changes being introduced under the act. This webinar will cover the strengthened and updated section 8 grounds that will replace it, including rules over landlords selling the property or moving in themselves, along with changes to the mandatory arrears ground, amongst others.
With existing tenancies converting to periodic assured tenancies from 1 May 2026, this webinar will help you understand your rights and responsibilities where you have legitimate reasons to bring a tenancy to an end.
The webinar will be held on Zoom on 4th March and will run from 11am-12noon. To book your spot click here.
19th March: Discrimination, advertising and referencing
Robust referencing will be vital when it comes to navigating the new act, however new discrimination protections mean that you need to ensure your processes are open and equal from the point at which tenants make an enquiry.
This webinar will cover the specific protections for tenants in receipt of benefits and families, as well as prohibition of ‘bidding wars’.
The webinar will be held on Zoom on 19th March and will run from 11am-12noon. To book your spot click here.
More information
- In addition to our webinar programme, we are continuing to campaign on behalf of student landlords and, just last week, joined forces with student housing platform Accommodation for Students, UniHomes and the Young Group, to warn the Government the existing timetable is unworkable and risk exacerbating the student housing crisis. Keep an eye on our news site and social media channels for updates.
- To visit our Renters’ Rights Hub, packed with information and resources to help you manage the transition click here.
- The NRLA’s award-winning training academy runs a comprehensive Renters' Rights Act training offer, with a course specifically designed for student landlords. Click here to book your place.
