Parliament Introduces Controversial Renters Reform Bill
The Renters (Reform) Bill, which was introduced to Parliament last week, proposes to abolish fixed-term tenancies in England and replace them with rolling tenancies.
The changes would mean tenants would only need to provide two months' notice to leave a property.
Landlords renting to students typically offer a 12-month fixed-term contract to match the academic year, but this would be abolished under the bill.
The bill would also scrap so-called "no-fault evictions", with landlords only able to evict tenants in certain circumstances.
Purpose-built student accommodation will be exempt from these changes, but other student housing will not.
Landlords are concerned that abolishing fixed-term tenancies for student housing could cause "chaos" and lead to a loss of income.
The National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) said the lack of certainty properties would be available at the start of the academic year could cause "chaos".
The government is engaging with landlords and students to address these concerns.
The National Union of Students (NUS) opposes exempting students from the government's new rental reforms, arguing that it would create an "underclass of tenants" who would not benefit from the same safeguards as other renters.
Under the current system of fixed-term tenancies, students are forced to pay for rooms they are not using over the summer months or if they leave their courses early.
Dan Wilson Craw, acting director of campaign group Generation Rent, says treating students differently from other renters could encourage unscrupulous landlords to target that sector and take advantage of looser rules.
The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities spokesman says that while the majority of students will not be impacted by the reforms, they are continuing to engage with students and landlords to ensure that the reforms work for both parties.
Landlords renting to students typically offer a 12-month fixed-term contract to match the academic year, but this would be abolished under the bill.
The bill would also scrap so-called "no-fault evictions", with landlords only able to evict tenants in certain circumstances.
Purpose-built student accommodation will be exempt from these changes, but other student housing will not.
Landlords are concerned that abolishing fixed-term tenancies for student housing could cause "chaos" and lead to a loss of income.
The National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) said the lack of certainty properties would be available at the start of the academic year could cause "chaos".
The government is engaging with landlords and students to address these concerns.
The National Union of Students (NUS) opposes exempting students from the government's new rental reforms, arguing that it would create an "underclass of tenants" who would not benefit from the same safeguards as other renters.
Under the current system of fixed-term tenancies, students are forced to pay for rooms they are not using over the summer months or if they leave their courses early.
Dan Wilson Craw, acting director of campaign group Generation Rent, says treating students differently from other renters could encourage unscrupulous landlords to target that sector and take advantage of looser rules.
The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities spokesman says that while the majority of students will not be impacted by the reforms, they are continuing to engage with students and landlords to ensure that the reforms work for both parties.
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