RRA Ready : Future-Proofing Student Lettings : Half Day Course

Train with binformed.co.uk – practical legal training built for real-world lettings. Stay compliant, reduce risk, and prepare your business for one of the most significant rental reforms in a generation.

The Renters’ Rights Actis the biggest threat to your existing student-letting model. This intensive 3-hour Masterclass delivers the essential, actionable strategies student-specialist agents need to maintain profitability and protect landlord assets.

Learn how to:

• Legally manage the transition to periodic tenancies without losing control of your letting cycle
• Minimise costly summer voids and safeguard predictable income
• Use new possession grounds to maintain flexibility for academic-year turnover
• Master deposit protection with advanced tactics and mandatory inventory training for student groups—cutting end-of-tenancy disputes dramatically

Stay ahead of legislative change, protect your landlords, and future-proof your 2025/26 student portfolio.

Lettings agency owners, directors, agents, property managers, compliance officers, renewals teams, and portfolio negotiators specialising in student HMOs and group lettings.

Essential for anyone who needs to understand how the Renters’ Rights Bill will disrupt the student rental market

Session 1: The Renters’ Rights ActFundamentals & Legislative Context (30 mins)

• Understanding the shift from ASTs to the new Assured Tenancy regime.
• What the Act means specifically for the student housing cycle and the academic tenancy model.
• Detailed analysis of required changes in Tenancy Agreement Templates and defining “Act-compliant” documentation.

Session 2: The Core Challenge: Managing Periodic Tenancies (45 mins)

• The End of Fixed Terms: Comprehensive analysis of how rolling periodic tenancies impact joint-and-several liability for student groups.
• Mitigating Summer Voids: Advanced strategies for securing tenants for a full 12-month cycle without fixed-term assurance.
• The legal framework for Annual Renewal and managing staggered departure dates within a group.
• Best practice for student Guarantor Agreements under the new periodic rules and ensuring their enforceability.
• Practical solutions for when one student leaves a joint periodic tenancy early.

Break (15 mins)

(Short break for refreshments)

Session 3: Grounds for Possession and Group Liability (40 mins)

• The Abolition of Section 21: What this means for end-of-tenancy group departures and managing property handovers.
• Grounds for Landlord Repossession (Ground 1 & 1A): Detailed, scenario-based training on using these grounds correctly for landlords who need their property back for sale or personal use, focusing on notice periods.
• Managing Rent Arrears (Ground 8): Applying the mandatory rent arrears ground efficiently in complex joint student tenancies, including effective communication and evidence gathering.
• Handling serious anti-social behaviour in HMOs with the new notice period rules.

Session 4: Tenancy Management, Pets, and Digital Compliance (25 mins)

• Pet Requests in Student HMOs: Comprehensive guidance on the new legal requirement to consider pet requests, drafting compliant pet clauses, and balancing this with HMO licence conditions.
• The role of the Private Rented Sector (PRS) Portal and new agent/landlord registration obligations.
• Understanding mandatory property safety standards and the importance of timely maintenance under the new regime.
• Briefing on any potential changes to Local Housing Allowance (LHA) or Council Tax exemptions for students under the new tenancy structure.

Session 5: Student Education & Deposit Protection (35 mins)

• The Inventory Imperative: Training students on the critical importance of checking the inventory, noting all pre-existing damage, and submitting signed documentation promptly.
• Checking hidden areas: under sofa cushions, both sides of mattresses, behind furniture.
• Joint & Several Responsibility Explained: Reinforcing that all tenants are responsible for the entire property’s condition (not just their own bedrooms) and the full rent.
• Damage Mitigation (HMO-Specific Tips): Training agents on pre-tenancy communication to prevent common student damages:
• Avoiding Blu-Tac, strong adhesives, and damaging LED light strips on walls.
• Proper waste disposal and avoiding blockages.
• Preventing condensation and mould.
• Documentation best practices: Mid-term inspections and photographic evidence throughout the tenancy.

Session 6: Implementation Checklist & Q&A (5 mins)

• An immediate, 5-point action plan to update tenancy agreements, marketing materials, and internal processes.
• Key training points and checklists for your lettings and property management staff.
• Open Q&A session

Course Takeaways

• A Renters Rights Act–compliant strategy for your lettings business
• Summary guide of all key legislative changes and dates
• Template letters, notices, and audit tools
• Certificate of Completion for professional development
• Access to post-course Q&A and policy updates

Final Q&A and Scenario Walkthrough

An open session to review case studies, tackle attendee questions, and walk through practical examples of applying the Bill to real-world tenancies.