Should we be offering our tenants a rent reduction?

Hello, we have a student let. After some leaks last winter we have decided to replace the roof and install room-in-roof insulation. We were unable to do the work in a void period as we’d signed up the tenants before the leaks started. The builders can do the work from the outside and have advised it’s fine for the tenants to live there while they do it.

However, they have just warned us that it will be noisy and builders tend to start work bright and early when the tenants may be asleep. The work itself should take two weeks but may be a bit stop-start as they have to find times when it’s unlikely to rain. It’s a new tenancy and some of the students will not be living there until after the work is complete anyway as they’ve gone away for the summer.

Should we be offering a rent reduction for those who have rooms on the top floor during the work, or can we suggest they sleep in an empty downstairs room if there’s one available? We’d like to be fair but the roof is costing a great deal and obviously, we don’t want to be losing income unless really necessary – opinions greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Caroline