"MPs have a final chance in September to protect the homes that make higher education possible – they must take it"
- Ben Beadle - NRLA
As thousands of young people across the country receive their A-level results and plan their next steps, a coalition of student housing organisations is warning MPs that they must act to safeguard the student housing market, which underpins access to higher education.
The National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA), alongside Accommodation for Students and the Young Group, is calling on MPs to support a House of Lords amendment to the Renters’ Rights Bill when it returns to the House of Commons on 8 September. The amendment would protect the annual letting cycle that forms the foundation of the student housing market.
Under current government proposals, only student landlords who rent houses with three or more tenants would be able to regain their properties to re-let to the next student cohort in line with the academic year. One- and two-bedroom student properties are excluded, even though these homes account for about a third of off-street student accommodation.
Without assurance that they can re-let these smaller homes for the next academic year, landlords are likely to stop renting to students. This reduction in supply could limit choice across the market, the coalition warns.
The groups emphasise that the consequences extend beyond housing. Research from Knight Frank shows that nearly two-thirds (65%) of first-time applicants say the availability of accommodation influences where they apply to study.
If the student housing cycle is disrupted, students may end up choosing a university based on where they can find a home rather than where they most want to study. Nearly half of students already report concerns about a shortage of suitable housing.
Peers in the House of Lords have recognised the urgency of the issue, voting in favour of an amendment that includes one- and two-bedroom student properties. The coalition is urging MPs to support this change when the Bill returns to the Commons and has written to the Housing Minister and Higher Education Minister pressing for action.
“A-level results day should be the start of an exciting new chapter for thousands of young people. But unless MPs act, future students could find their ambitions blocked – not by grades, but by a lack of somewhere to live," said Ben Beadle, chief executive of the National Residential Landlords Association. “Without this change, the Renters’ Rights Bill will make it harder for landlords to offer one- and two-bedroom properties to students.
“This would break the student housing cycle, restrict choice, and risk undermining social mobility by limiting opportunities for students from all backgrounds.
He added, “MPs have a final chance in September to protect the homes that make higher education possible – they must take it.”
