"If landlords can’t be sure they’ll regain possession in time for the next academic year, many will simply stop letting to students"
- Ben Beadle - NRLA
The National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) has raised concerns that limiting key student housing protections to only larger Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) could significantly disrupt supply and the annual student rental cycle.
These concerns follow remarks by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage during the Committee Stage of the Renters’ Rights Bill in the House of Lords. The Minister defended the current scope of Ground 4A, which allows landlords to regain possession of student lets in line with the academic calendar, stating that restricting it to HMOs with three or more bedrooms “captures the bulk of typical students.”
However, data from accommodationforstudents.com reveals that one- and two-bedroom properties make up 32% of the off-street student housing market — a significant portion currently excluded from these protections.
Ground 4A, as it stands, enables landlords to plan for the academic cycle by reclaiming student tenancies at the end of the year. However, it applies only to HMOs with three or more bedrooms, excluding many properties often favoured by postgraduate and final-year students seeking quieter living arrangements.
A cross-party amendment led by Lord Willetts, President of the Resolution Foundation, sought to expand Ground 4A to include smaller student properties — an amendment the NRLA strongly supports.
With fixed-term tenancies set to be abolished under the Bill, Ground 4A becomes essential for ensuring landlords can re-let properties to new students each academic year. Without this certainty, many landlords may exit the student rental market altogether.
“We welcome the Government’s acknowledgement of the importance of the student rental cycle and the need to boost supply to help control rents," comments NRLA chief executive Ben Beadle.
However, he added, “Excluding one- and two-bedroom homes from Ground 4A will have the opposite effect. These homes are vital for many students, particularly postgraduates and those seeking quieter study environments. The Government’s reasoning overlooks the role these properties play.”
Beadle emphasised that the exclusion does little to protect vulnerable groups and instead risks driving landlords away from the student sector.
“If landlords can’t be sure they’ll regain possession in time for the next academic year, many will simply stop letting to students,” he warned. “This will mean fewer available homes, more competition, higher rents, and reduced options for students.”
“We urge the Government to reconsider at Report Stage and ensure that all student rental properties — not just large HMOs — are protected under Ground 4A.”
