Landlords raise concerns regarding periodic tenancy plans

Landlords in Cornwall have warned that students will suffer a significant decrease in student accommodation unless the government allows them to have 10–12-month tenancy agreements.

In a response to the government’s White Paper regarding fairer renting, the Cornwall Residential Landlords Association says that a change to two-month periodic tenancies will leave landlords uncertain about whether tenants will vacate their properties. The cost of student halls of residence for those at university is significantly more than equivalent properties in the privately rented sector. Chairman of the Landlords Association, Ruth Clarke expressed that making tenancies more difficult may force many landlords to leave this specialist market, therefore discriminating against the vulnerable and those from ethnic minorities who may be less likely to be able to afford to continue with their education.

Tenants have communicated that they fear the proposed changes will leave them less secure, especially those who have transgressed in the past and have had to leave their homes or face the costs of court fees when the landlord obtained a possession order.

Other UK landlord groups have previously warned that students will pay higher rents as landlords exit the sector if the proposal is introduced. We have already seen this in Scotland as similar rules have been recently introduced. This will have a knock-on effect on the rates of students applying to university, as many will fear that they will be unable to find affordable housing throughout their studies.

If you are a student and you are experiencing difficulties with housing, there is help available on the citizen’s advice website.