In shaping the Renters’ Rights Bill, the Government acknowledged that providers of Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) operating under an Approved Code should be treated separately from the wider rental market.
Unipol Student Homes has worked closely with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to develop how this distinction will be applied. On 25 June, Baroness Taylor of Stevenage, Minister for Housing Communities and Local Government, tabled an amendment at Report Stage in the House of Lords—formally referencing Unipol—which was subsequently approved.
The amendment outlines three tests PBSA providers must meet to be excluded from the definition of an assured tenancy. One key test is active membership of the ANUK/Unipol National Code. For those who qualify, this means:
- The ability to issue common law tenancies
- Exemption from registering with the new complaints ombudsman
- No requirement to join the new landlord database
- Exemption from the Decent Homes Standard and Awaab's Law
These are substantial advantages for Code members. As Baroness Taylor stated:
“We have also exempted this sector from the protections of the assured tenancy system because we are satisfied that the Unipol codes of management practice provide an alternative route to ensuring that tenancies are at a high standard.”
Unipol continues to engage with Government on the implementation details, including updates to the National Code, which will relaunch alongside the Bill. The aim is to protect student interests while ensuring the sector can operate within a fair and balanced framework.
Importantly, only PBSA providers within the ANUK/Unipol Code will benefit from these exemptions, those outside the Code will not.
Unipol Student Homes thanks its members and stakeholders for their continued support.
Read the latest member update here.