exeposé Students voice concerns on the Renter’s Reform Bill

sector. In order to ensure that properties are not vacant outside of term times, landlords that rent to students often give a 12-month fixed-term lease. However, rolling tenancies, in which rent is paid weekly or monthly with no set end date, will replace fixed-term tenancies under the Renters Reform Bill, which was put forward to Parliament at the end of May.

Given these measures, the NRLA warned that there might be “chaos” if there was any doubt about whether properties will be accessible at the start of the academic year. However, the National Union of Students warned that if reforms were not implemented, students would fall into an “underclass.”

STUDENTS have voiced concerns surrounding the new Renter’s Reform Bill, with worries that “this will likely make the Exeter property market even more competitive than it currently is and may push prices higher at a faster rate”. This is alongside worries that introducing “tenancies with no fixed end date will exploit more students financially and leave them with even less of their maintenance loan.”

Landlords have warned that the Renters Reform Bill’s planned proposals to end fixed-term tenancies in England could “decimate” the student housing

As a result of the revisions, tenants will only need to give two months’ notice before vacating a property. As part of the measure, which only applies to England, so-called “no-fault evictions” are abolished. Instead, landlords would only be permitted to evict renters under specific conditions, such as when they want to sell the house or when they or a close relative wants to move in. The only student housing that will be immune from these changes is purpose-built accommodation, which was constructed with students in mind.

According to the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA), landlords would be dependent on sitting tenants giving notice to vacate a property in plenty of time for new students to move in under the current rules.

Lily Margaroli, Guild President, stated that the aims of this bill will include “increasing the standards of rental properties”. She further suggested that the Guild have however had “some concerns about the removal of fixed-term tenancy agreements and the detrimental impact this could have on the ability of students to have flexible accommodation options”.

The Students’ Guild have highlighted that they are working with the University to offer advice through the Move Smart campaign. The Guild are also working with the University on their plans to create additional student housing on campus to ease the pressure. Margaroli emphasised that the Guild will “continue to monitor the impact of this reform” as well as “engage with key stakeholders to mitigate any potential negative impacts”.

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