Student Accommodation

Important facts if you are looking to provide student accommodation!

In the last 2 years, housing regulations affecting student accommodation have changed. Now there is a criteria of compliance that needs to be met for houses of multiple occupation (e.g more than one family living in a single dwelling). The criteria of compliance also applies to student accommodation and safe keeping of rental deposits.

Below, we have outlined 2 of the most recent changes in relation to Safety of Deposits and the new Health and Safety Laws due to be enforced in April '07.

Tenant Deposit Scheme Regulations

In April 2007 a new system to protect deposits came into force.

All private landlords in England and Wales with assured short-hold tenancies will have to protect their tenants’ deposit in some way. This can be done by either taking out a special insurance or by handing out the deposit to a third party.

All new tenancies (starting during April 2007 and onwards only) will be affected.

Housing Health and Safety Rating System

As of April 2006, all student accommodation has to comply with Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) regulations.

In layman’s terms, this means that all UK student accommodation (houses or flats) needs to be assessed for potential health and safety hazards. Any findings must be removed or minimized as appropriate.

The rating system is monitored and regulated by the local Council and there are penalties for persistent non-conforming landlords.
The regulations cover:

• Dampness, excess cold/heat

• Pollutants e.g. asbestos, carbon monoxide, lead

• Lack of space, security or lighting, or excessive noise

• Poor hygiene, sanitation, water supply

• Accidents – falls, electric shocks, fires, burns, scalds

• Collisions, explosions, structural collapse (all or part of the building falling down)