With A Level results due out on 13th August, many parents will soon be scrambling to secure their child’s student accommodation for the 2026/27 academic year. This year, doing so is more nuanced than ever before, with different types of accommodation affording different rights to student tenants, due to the Renters’ Rights Act.
Implemented on 1st May 2026, the Renters’ Rights Act means students (and their parents) looking for accommodation now need to understand the differences between university halls, purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA), and other types of privately rented accommodation, such as houses in multiple occupation (HMOs), Build to Rent apartments, and other rental homes.
Many will also need to understand topics such as rent guarantors and depositless rental schemes, making early research crucial.
Dani Smith, Sales Manager at UK rental services provider Housing Hand, has shared key insights that every parent needs to know by the time A Level results day arrives and the process of accepting university places and finding accommodation begins.
Paying rent in advance: PBSA providers and university halls can ask for the payment of multiple months of rent in advance, as they are afforded an exemption by the Renters’ Rights Act, which allows them to do this. Other accommodation providers cannot.
Tenancy type: Rental contracts for PBSA and university halls can be for a fixed duration, tied in with the academic year. All other accommodation types must now offer assured periodic tenancies (APT), which continue indefinitely until either the tenant gives notice to leave or the landlord obtains possession using statutory grounds. An example of this is where a landlord of an HMO issues a Ground 4A notice. This enables them to free up their property ready for a new cohort of students to move in ready for the next academic year.
Ending a tenancy early: Student renters can give two months’ notice at any point if they live in an HMO, Build to Rent apartment or other privately rented property. If one tenant gives two months’ notice to end the tenancy, it will end for all other tenants in the property at the same time. In such a situation, the remaining tenants will need to discuss with their landlord whether then can take out a new tenancy and thus remain in the property. The ability to end a tenancy early does not apply in purpose-built student accommodation or university halls due to the ability to take a fixed term contract.
The need for a guarantor: Many landlords require student renters to have a guarantor – someone who makes a legal commitment to pay the rent if the student becomes unable to do so. Some parents are comfortable taking on this role, while others prefer their child to use a professional rent guarantor service. Housing Hand’s guarantor service is available for a £20 onboarding fee (to cover the cost of ID verification checks for the student and their co-signer), with nothing more payable until the student moves in. With the company’s new Guarantor Passport service, students can get ahead and show landlords and accommodation providers that Housing Hand could stand as their guarantor (subject to completing the full guarantor process) before they know the address of their student accommodation. This removes some of the last-minute scramble and stress that usually follows A Level results day in August.
How depositless schemes work: Raising a deposit isn’t always easy, which is where depositless rental options come in. These usually ask for a small upfront payment (£25 in the case of those who use Housing Hand as their guarantor), followed by small monthly payments throughout the tenancy, in line with the tenant’s rent. In return, renters enjoy the power of securing their dream property without the deposit being an obstacle.
What to do if you can’t pay your rent: Communication is key in this situation. Parents should ensure their child knows to flag up any difficulties as early as possible, so that a positive and proactive solution can be found. Housing Hand’s research shows that just 52% of student tenants would know what to do if they can’t pay rent, emphasising the need for parents to discuss this with their offspring before they head off to uni.
“Being proactive can reap big rewards when it comes to finding and securing student rental accommodation but there’s so much for parents to consider. Those who take the time before results day to understand the different types of accommodation and renters’ rights in relation to them will be well placed to help their children secure the homes they want for the coming academic year.”
Dani Smith, Sales Manager, Housing Hand
For more information, please contact Housing Hand on +44 (0) 207 205 2625 or visit www.housinghand.com
