Are student tenancy renewals a thing of the past?

Hello, Are student tenancy ‘renewals’ the latest gaping hole in the ongoing Renters’ Rights Act landscape?

You have a good group who like the house and you like them. Normally you would sign them up for a new term following the current tenancy.

Now under the new laws, we essentially agree with a wink and a handshake and hope that they remain in the property and that no tenant serves notice.

This may or may not work out but if the worst comes to fruition, and they serve notice next April, we are then scrabbling around trying to find a group to backfill the house.

Or are we better to sign up a new group because there is something firm for the following summer and serve a Section 4A on the current group.

No option really sits right with me so am I missing something obvious?

Can we legally draw up a new agreement for the next ‘year’ which at least would cover us for the summer months and disincentivises the students in looking for greener grass?

Thank you,

Ellen