A new student shorthold tenancy (SST) would address student renters’ unique needs, ensuring fairness and safety while providing flexibility around academic schedules, according to iHowz landlord association.

It believes there should be a legal provision for fixed term agreements if all parties agree and suggests that a specifically tailored tenancy for students would make a sensible amendment to the Renters’ Rights Bill.

In response to the government’s call for evidence, iHowz says this type of tenancy would have clear start and completion dates, ensuring students get guaranteed accommodation for the academic year or term, while they wouldn’t be contractually obliged until early in the calendar year, rather than the end of the previous calendar year.

Larger deposits

Among its other recommendations, the group believes landlords should be allowed to take larger deposits where a tenant requests to keep a pet and that the property portal proposed in the Renters Reform Bill should be introduced to incorporate the new database in the Renters’ Rights Bill. This could include gas and electric safety certificates, EPC, any relevant property licence, or planning use class, ombudsman membership and Unique Property Reference Number. The portal would prevent the need for landlords to register multiple times across various schemes.

iHowz adds that if new, stricter standards along the lines of a property MoT were introduced along with mandatory landlord registration, there should be no need for widespread licensing schemes, which are generally seen as burdensome and ineffective.

Its other recommendations include calling for Section 24 to be reformed to help prevent further rent increases and encourage landlords to remain in the sector and for the government to implement the Regulation of Property Agents report, setting out more regulation and training for letting agents.

iHowz believes that the new legislation should have an implementation period of one year from Royal Assent, preceded by court improvements to ensure all cases are heard within one month of filing.