By Matilda Robinson, Third Year, Politics and International Relations
If you’ve ever battled through the Bristol student housing rat race, refreshing Rightmove tabs like it’s a competitive sport, or getting ghosted by letting agents after a ten-minute viewing, you'll know that renting as a student can be… a lot. But change might be on the horizon. The Renters’ Rights Bill is making its way through Parliament, and it could seriously shake up the renting game. Currently in the committee stage in the House of Lords, the bill is part of Labour’s pledge to reform private renting. It aims to boost renters’ rights by ending ‘no fault’ evictions, increasing security, and making housing more accessible and affordable. Sounds good, right? But for students, especially those of us living in high-demand, high-rent Bristol, the story is a little more complicated.
Don’t panic if you’re in University halls of residence or purpose-built student accommodations, like UNITE buildings, as these won’t be impacted by the Renters' Rights Bill. These types of housing typically operate under different agreements and aren’t subject to the same legislation as private rentals. But here’s where it matters: the bill will affect HMO (House in Multiple Occupation) shared houses, a.k.a. the classic post-first-year student houses.
Rolling contracts: freedom or flop?
One of the biggest changes is a shift from fixed-term contracts (like the classic 12-month tenancy) to rolling monthly tenancies. On paper, this looks like a win. Why pay for a flat in July when you’re working at a festival, interrailing, or back home recovering from exam season? Paying rent only during term time could save students hundreds, if not thousands, every year. But here’s the catch: landlords don’t love empty houses. If they can’t guarantee 12 months of rent, some might ditch student lets altogether. In a city like Bristol, where student housing is already competitive and pricey, this could make things even harder for us in the long run.
Upfront payments: accessibility for whom?
The bill also bans landlords from demanding more than one month’s rent upfront. The idea is to help people who might not be able to cough up thousands in advance (we see you, £900 deposits). But for international students or those without UK guarantors, this could actually make things trickier. These students often rely on paying several months' rent upfront to secure a place, something that might no longer be allowed. In trying to level the playing field, the bill might inadvertently sideline the very people who already face the most obstacles in the rental market.
Issues for student budgeting
Most of us get our maintenance loans in three big chunks, and let’s be real, they often barely stretch past Week Five. Now imagine trying to juggle monthly rent payments when your loan doesn’t drop until halfway through term. The move to rolling tenancies doesn’t exactly line up with the way student finances are structured, and unless landlords are unusually flexible, it could create some awkward financial gaps.
Higher rents on the horizon?
More rules = more admin = more costs for landlords. And who ends up paying for that? Yep, us again. There’s a risk that these changes could drive some landlords out of the student market entirely, leaving fewer properties available and giving those that remain more power to ramp up prices. In a city where the average student rent already hovers around £650-£700 a month (not including bills), any increase could push housing even further out of reach.
So… should students be worried?
Yes and no. The bill has good intentions, and it could offer real protection for renters in the long term. For students, though, it’s a bit of a mixed bag. We’re not the average renter, and most policy reforms don’t quite reflect the unique rhythm of student life. But if you’re worried about how this will play out, you’re not alone. Universities, student unions, and accommodation providers are already raising concerns, and hopefully, this means we’ll see some amendments to the bill that consider the student perspective. Some politicians, like Carla Denyer, the Co-leader of the Green Party and MP for Central Bristol, have acknowledged the knock-on effects of this bill for students. She has pushed for additional amendments like forms of rent control, another potential win for student renters.
What can you do?
While we wait for the Renters’ Rights Bill to unfold, there are a few things you can do:
1. Start house-hunting early: it’s annoying, but it helps.
2. Ask questions during viewings, especially about rent payment structure, deposits, and contract length.
3. Use student advice services like the SU Lettings or university housing teams for help decoding contracts.
4. Support campaigns that advocate for student renters. The louder we are, the more likely it is that policies will take our needs seriously.
