News from 30 June 2026
Read the current guide to tenancy rules in England.
Student letting operator loc8me has reported questions from landlords about how England’s tenancy reforms apply to student homes. These include the use of Ground 4A and arranging possession before a new academic year.
Questions about student tenancies
The Renters’ Rights Act ended Section 21 “no fault” evictions and moved landlords towards a reformed possession framework based on statutory grounds. For many landlords, that already requires a change in habit. For student landlords, the added complication is that some of the discussion around the reforms has focused on larger student HMOs and the new Ground 4A route.
According to loc8me, one common misconception is that Ground 4A applies to every student property. The agency says some one and two-bedroom student homes are outside that route, meaning landlords should not assume the same process applies across a whole portfolio. The detail of the property, the tenancy and the intended possession route all matter.
Another concern is the belief that the abolition of Section 21 means landlords can no longer regain possession at all. That is not the right way to read the reforms. The process has changed, but possession routes still exist where the relevant statutory ground applies and the landlord follows the correct procedure.
There is also concern about whether students can simply walk away mid-year. The report says loc8me has been pushing back against that idea, noting that tenants still need to give the required notice and follow the legal process. Even so, the practical risk for landlords is that uncertainty on either side of the tenancy can make planning harder.
