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