Independent students could be left in limbo under Renters’ Rights Act

The Renters’ Rights Act could cause chaos for independent students who do not have access to accommodation over the summer.

Student Finance England defines independent students as those who are not living with their parents, are over 25 years old, and have been supporting themselves for the past three years.

An article on the WONKHE website says that for independent students relying on fixed-term tenancies, the rental landscape may shift, meaning most shared student accommodations could only be available from September to June.

Discuss issue with their landlords

The issue of independent students came up in a written question by Labour MP Nadia Whittome.

She asked: “What assessment has the government made of the potential impact of the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 on independent students who require accommodation between June and September.”

Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook claimed any students who wish to stay in their accommodation during the summer must ask their landlord.

He said: “My Department has made no such assessment.

“The Renters’ Rights Act introduces a new mandatory ground which will allow landlords renting HMOs to full-time students who occupy on either joint or individual tenancy agreements to seek possession ahead of each new academic year, facilitating the ongoing yearly cycle of short-term student tenancies.

“Students living in one or two-bed (non-HMO) properties will have the same security of tenure as tenants in the wider private rented sector.

“As is the case now, we would encourage students who wish to remain in their accommodation over the summer to discuss with their landlords.”

Failure to protect the annual cycle of all student housing

As previously reported on Property118, under the Renters’ Rights Act, HMO student landlords using Ground 4A cannot regain possession of their properties until the first week of September because of the four-month notice period.

The National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) warns this leaves a gap in which landlords cannot gain possession of their properties in time for August 2026, which is too late for incoming students, whose tenancies are set to start on 1st September.

Ben Beadle, chief executive of the NRLA, said: “The government has put opportunity and aspiration at risk with this decision. The failure to protect the annual cycle of all student housing will shut people out of higher education and make it harder for others to plan where they will live.

“Limiting access to accommodation doesn’t just affect students. It will be of particular concern to many universities already facing difficult financial futures.”