Private student accommodation providers have urged the government to rethink the Renters’ Rights Bill’s outright ban on fixed-term tenancy agreements.
They argued that students and landlords rely on tenancies that align with the cyclical nature of the academic year – and the bill doesn’t recognise the unique structure of student housing.
If the bill goes through unchanged it’s thought that private university stock designed for students could diminish.
Therefore, the Student Accredited Private Rental Sector (SAPRS) called for the bill to be amended to equalise purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) and private student housing.
Calum MacInnes, chair of SAPRS, said: “We were delighted to see the introduction of the Renters’ Rights Bill by the new government and support their ambition to overhaul the private rented sector.
“However, it’s crucial that students across the country don’t suffer from the reforms. We will continue our warnings until students get the housing system they deserve.”
During the bill’s Second Reading this month, Liberal Democrat spokesperson for housing and planning, Gideon Amos, warned of a potential “significant withdrawal of student housing from the market” from the reforms, and shadow minister for housing, communities and local government, David Simmonds, outlined the need to ensure there is “appropriate flexibility in respect of student properties”.
Even without the Bill, StuRents has forecast a 490,000-bed shortfall in the student sector by 2026.
Similar rental legislation to the Renters Rights’ Bill has already lowered the supply of student housing stock in Scotland.
