Student landlords have just days left to secure possession of their properties ahead of the new academic year as the impact of the Renters’ Rights Act continues to reshape the private rented sector.
Housing Hand has warned that landlords renting to students through houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) and purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) must issue a Ground 4A notice before 31 May if they want tenants to leave at the end of the current academic cycle.
The warning comes just weeks after the abolition of Section 21 “no fault” evictions under the new legislation, with many landlords and agents still adjusting to the revised possession rules.
Ground 4A is now one of the key mandatory possession grounds available to student landlords seeking to regain occupancy in time for the next intake of university tenants. Industry figures warn that missing the deadline could leave landlords unable to re-let properties in line with the traditional September student cycle.
HMO SECTOR
The issue is expected to be particularly significant within the HMO sector, where student turnover underpins annual letting patterns in many university towns and cities.
Housing Hand says some PBSA operators may also be caught out because, unlike HMOs, the notice requirement will not become an annual process for every operator until future cycles.
Graham Hayward (main picture), Managing Director of Housing Hand, says: “This week is the last call for HMO and PBSA landlords to get their properties back ready for the next academic year.
“Issuing a Ground 4A by the 31st May deadline will now, under the Renters’ Rights Act, be an annual occurrence for HMO landlords but is an exception this year for PBSA operators, which may catch some off guard.
“It’s crucial that they don’t leave it too late to issue a Ground 4A if they wish to continue operating in line with the usual academic cycle.”
RENTAL LEGISLATION
The warning adds to growing pressure across the lettings sector as landlords, agents and student accommodation providers adapt to the biggest overhaul of rental legislation in a generation.
Property professionals have increasingly warned that confusion around implementation deadlines and possession procedures could create disruption within parts of the rental market during the transition period.
Housing Hand says it has already contacted landlord partners directly to remind them of the requirements and urged the wider sector to seek legal advice where necessary to avoid missing the deadline.
