Private landlords have been given unexpected respite as the controversial Renters’ Reform Bill is now not expected to pass into law before the autumn, according to guarantor firm Housing Hand.
The legislation – set to overhaul tenancy agreements in England – had been anticipated this summer, threatening disruption to the critical letting season for student accommodation.
But revised forecasts suggest implementation will now fall in October or November.
“This anticipated timeline spares the busy summer student rental season from the immediate impact of the Bill,” the company confirmed.
WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY
The delay offers landlords of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) and providers of purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) a vital window to prepare for sweeping regulatory changes. But Housing Hand warned that the pause should not be mistaken for reprieve.
Graham Hayward, the firm’s Managing Director, says: “Now is the time to prepare.
“The Bill will still come into force later this year. Landlords entering the market at that point will feel its full effect.”
A Housing Hand survey of more than 1,700 renters revealed that 69% are unaware of the Bill’s existence, with 75% unclear on how it might affect them.
Extrapolated across the 4.6 million privately renting households in England, that amounts to over 3 million tenants potentially unprepared for the changes.
Hayward adds: “Accommodation providers have a responsibility to engage and inform tenants.
“Lack of awareness could lead to confusion, particularly as tenancy terms begin to shift.”
He added that flexible notice periods under the new rules may make HMOs more attractive to students than long-term PBSA contracts—a potential battleground for the sector as the reforms approach.
