Renters (Reform) Bill will worsen student housing crisis, survey warns

Most Britons (53%) want the government to do more to help students find housing and avoid the negative impact of the Renters (Reform) Bill, which could ban fixed-term tenancy agreements (FTTAs) for private student accommodation.

The poll was commissioned by SAPRS (Student Accredited Private Rental Sector), a group of second- and third-year student housing providers across the UK.

It comes as the Bill returned to Parliament for its second reading, sparking concerns from higher education organisations such as Universities UK.

It has warned that the Bill could threaten the availability, affordability and quality of student housing in a sector already facing a crisis.

'Parity for private student housing with purpose-built student accommodation'

SAPRS' chair, Calum MacInnes, said: "Our research provides damning evidence for the government to act quickly and offer parity for private student housing with purpose-built student accommodation.

"Delivering security for students would win support from this community, at a time when students need it most."

The survey also shows the potential consequences of banning FTTAs, with most Scots (52%) now saying there is not enough student housing in Scotland.

This follows the scrapping of FTTAs there in 2017 through the Private Residential Tenancy, which led to Scottish universities alerting students of a severe shortage of accommodation.

The Bill worsening the student housing crisis

SAPRS says the prospect of England following suit sends a worrying signal to the government on the possibility of the Bill worsening the student housing crisis.

In its current form, the Bill will prohibit FTTAs for private student accommodation in England, despite both students and landlords depending on tenancies that match the cyclical nature of the academic year.

SAPRS and other experts in the higher education sector argue that the Bill does not acknowledge the unique structure of the student housing market and therefore fails to sufficiently cater for students and student landlords.

Unipol's chief executive, Paddy Jackman, said: "Student accommodation is an educational issue.

"The current lack of affordable accommodation means that students are choosing where to study based on accommodation availability or, worse, being limited to institutions to which they can commute from their family home."

He added: "Any further reduction in the supply, when student numbers are increasing, will only make the situation worse.

"Supporting all young people is the key to our country's future."

Student housing affordability would affect student's wellbeing

The survey also found that almost all of those who think there is too little housing available (96%) believe lower student housing affordability would affect student's wellbeing.

More than half of students have already reported being affected by a mental health issue which could rise as private landlords leave the market over uncertainty, with students suffering as a result.

SAPRS believes that the Bill must be amended to ensure equality between purpose-built student accommodation and private student housing to prevent a deterioration of the student housing crisis, if landlords sign up to an approved code of conduct with quality standards and safeguards for students.

'Serious implications for the student housing sector in England'

The managing director of accommodationforstudents.com, Simon Thompson, said: "The Renters (Reform) Bill, if passed without amendments, could have serious implications for the student housing sector in England, as shown by the experience of students and student landlords in Scotland.

"The survey by SAPRS highlights the need for the government to do more to support students find housing and help landlords remain in the sector."

He added: "We also need to encourage new student property investors and the government must listen to what student landlords say about purpose-built student accommodation having fixed term tenancies but not for the private student housing.

"The government obviously sees a need to protect one student housing sector and it's good to see a survey find public support for our stance."