Exempt Student HMO’s from Renters’ Rights Act 2025?
Hello everyone, The Renters’ Rights Act changes are causing havoc as student tenancies fall in with the academic year.
If someone gives notice, the whole house is deemed to have given notice. We have had cases where 4 people are going through anxiety because the 5th has given notice.
If the whole house gives notice in April, the landlord has to wait for the new academic year before being able to get some rental income again, and has the additional cost of council tax.
Rents will probably go up to compensate, or landlords will stop doing private student housing (which is a lot cheaper than the uni accommodation), and this will not help tenants.
Of course, the uni accommodation does not fall under the same rules as the rest of us for rental reform.
Below is an online petition set up by Julie Ringrose:
Exempt Student HMO’s from Renters Rights Act 2025 – Petitions
“We believe Student HMO’s should be exempt from the Renter’s Rights Act 2025 as these properties are run on a totally different business/rental model compared to professional and private rentals.
In our view Student HMO’s are a totally different entity to professional HMO’s. For example, if a professional leaves a HMO, you will re-rent the room easily. However, if a student leaves mid year we think the landlord is very unlikely to find a replacement student tenant as students plan their accommodation ahead of time, and often choose a house with their friendship group for the academic year. We think the changes brought in by the Act will make life for student landlords like myself extremely unpredictable and financially unstable and in turn, leaves student accommodation in an extremely vulnerable position”
Many thanks
Roger
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Member Since September 2015 - Comments: 1021
11:11 AM, 26th May 2026, About 3 weeks ago
The Government (and the Tories before them) have given an unfair competitive advantage to the PBSA sector (on the basis of their business model). Student Landlords should have the same rights as the PBSAs.
Member Since October 2022 - Comments: 222
3:19 AM, 27th May 2026, About 3 weeks ago
Really, the RRA should only apply to corporate and social housing as in its current form it flagrantly denies landlords the right to reclaim their own privately owned property when they want it back. Essentially it forces a private individual to treat a tenancy as a potential lifetime commitment, which is completely unreasonable. It just shows how much the powers that be want to turn everything over to the corporate world and get rid of private renting.
Member Since May 2015 - Comments: 2231 - Articles: 2
10:25 AM, 30th May 2026, About 3 weeks ago
The RRA has hardened my attitude. I now believe that the anxiety of Roger’s four tenants is not of any concern, he must apply the law to the letter, just as the judges do for landlords.
Member Since January 2015 - Comments: 1502 - Articles: 1
1:41 PM, 30th May 2026, About 3 weeks ago
A student HMO should be a tenancy for the room and a Licence for the communal parts.
Then if a student gives notice as dropped out, been checked out or their course ends early the rest of the students are unaffected.
Member Since May 2014 - Comments: 207
2:20 PM, 30th May 2026, About 3 weeks ago
Reply to the comment left by Judith Wordsworth at 30/05/2026 – 13:41
That’s a thought, would that work, anyone?