Unipol’s Renters’ Rights Workshops with legal expert Hilary Crook

The Renters’ Rights Bill will soon be law and will bring about a sea-change in the private rented sector.

The Bill is likely to receive Royal Assent and be enacted during the 2025 – 2026 academic year, so landlords renting to students need to understand the legal framework and their new obligations now so that they can prepare for the changes ahead.

The Workshops

These workshops are both comprehensive and practical, with the aim to equip off-street property landlords with the knowledge to make informed decisions on how to rent to students under the new legislation. What is changing?  What will remain the same?  Where do you have discretion and what will be compulsory?  Designed to help you proactively manage your tenancies. 

Who Should Attend?

These sessions are for both new and experienced landlords and managing agents. Although you are recommended to attend all the sessions, it is also fine to pick and choose the ones most relevant to you and/or your team.

These sessions are FREE to accredited Unipol Code landlords and managing agents and DASH student landlords. If you not a member of one of these schemes please contact us for rates and applicability.

Spaces Available

Agenda

Speakers

Hilary Crook, Hatch Legal

Hilary Crook is a solicitor with over 30 years’ experience of advising student accommodation providers.  She is an experienced trainer and one of Unipol’s regular panel of speakers. 

Outside the conference room, Hilary runs a busy law practice.   Her expertise in landlord and tenant law is complemented by her knowledge of consumer law, data protection, equality and human rights, all of which are important in a successful student accommodation business.   Clients appreciate her practical approach to problem-solving and the accessibility of her advice. 

Details

Session 1: The Basics – understanding tenancy agreements under the Renters’ Rights legislation
13th August – 10:30 – 12:00

This session will cover tenancy agreements and what the new regime will look like after implementation of the act.  What will still apply and what won’t.  What the transitional arrangements are likely to be as the sector moves from using Assured Shorthold Tenancies to Assured Tenancies. What will tenants be able to do and what will be the procedures for ending a tenancy.

Session 2: Grounds for Possession and Joint tenancies
13th August – 13:30 - 15:00

This session will look in detail at the different grounds for possession and the use of the new Ground 4A in particular.  How should landlords manage this process and how will the restrictions on its usage effect the lettings cycle?

The session will consider the usage of both individual and joint tenancies.  Will the continued use of joint tenancies become more challenging if some students in a group wish to give notice?  What about if one student changes status mid-tenancy?

Session 3: Decent Homes Standard, Landlord Database, Accreditation and Anti-discrimination measures
20th August – 10:30 - 12:00

This session will consider a number of measures in the legislation that may not be introduced immediately but are likely to be phased in over time.  Landlords need to start preparing now so that they are ready to meet the changes ahead.  How do you deal with a request for a pet?  What will the Decent homes Standard mean for the current HHSRS regime?

Session 4: Practical application, what will stay the same and relationships with 3^rd parties
20th August – 13:30 - 15:00

This session will cover notice periods and the new monthly tenancy schedule; rent due dates and amounts; how to apportion rent and how to arrange all-inclusive rent arrangements.  The session will also examine how existing processes and contracts may or may not be affected such as HMO Licensing, Planning Use Classes, Deposit Protection and existing contracts.

Please only choose one ticket per person. You will be able to choose workshop options later in the booking process.