We bring you the latest news and updates for Leicester student landlords.
Market update from Ruta
We launched our 2026/27 HMO lettings earlier than ever this year, going live on 1st October. This early start has already proven successful, with strong demand from student groups – particularly those looking for two-bed homes.
We’re currently ahead of where we were this time last year, with strong letting activity across both DMU and University of Leicester properties. So far, we’ve already let over 50% of our available houses. I’m also seeing clear trends emerging: students are prioritising properties with two bathrooms and locations as close to campus as possible.
Demand from DMU students is still on the slower side, making up only 24% of viewing requests during this sales cycle.
My team and I are proactively following up with all enquiries to secure tenants for your property as early as we can for the next academic year. If you have any questions or would like an update on your property, please feel free to get in touch, I’m always happy to help.
Renters’ Rights Act roadmap
As has been widely publicised, the Renters Rights Act is now law. This is a generational change and will sweep away all of the established norms in the lettings market. Key changes are:
- The loss of Section 21
- Ending of fixed term tenancies
- 2 months’ notice for tenants from day1 of the tenancy
- The end of termly rent payments
- A presumption in favour of allowing tenants to keep pets.
- Banning rent in advance and rental bidding
- A new landlord register and ombudsman
- Increased local authority enforcement powers
- Awaabs law
- Decent and Safe Housing standards
The student market will be particularly impacted by the loss of fixed term tenancies, notice periods and the uncertainty over whether a property will be available for the next lettings year with the end of fixed terms and S21. Whilst there is a new ground for possession (Ground 4A) this won’t help landlords of 1-2 bed properties who will be in a very difficult position.
The new law will be implemented in stages with some initially changes due in December 2025, with the really big changes coming next year. The key date is 1st May 2026. At this point, the following will change:
- End of Section 21
- All tenancies (including existing tenancies) will change to periodic tenancies.
- Tenants will get the power to give 2-months’ notice to quit.
Following this will the new Decent and Safe housing standards, Awaabs law and changes to MEES (minimum EPC standard) and the landlord register and ombudsman. These changes are not due to come into effect for several years in some cases.
The full official roadmap for implementing the Renters’ Rights Act can be viewed on the Gov.uk site here.
What should you do?
If you are an existing Sulets landlords with ether a Let Only or Managed agreement you should contact us to discuss how to remain compliant and ensure that any documents that need to be served re processed properly.
If you let via our leased scheme, you can ignore all these changes because Sulets has a general exemption from the changes for those who lease their properties to us.
Sulets Renters Rights Act exemption
Due to our unique status as an educational charity Sulets has an exemption from the new Renters Rights Act. We lease properties direct from landlords and then sub-rent to students. This gives landlords a guaranteed rent with a fixed term income and guaranteed return of the property at the end of the agreement. If you would like to discuss this further please get in contact with us.
East Midlands Housing Conference
Sulets sponsored this Nottingham-based event in late November, which proved to be an excellent and well-attended gathering covering a broad range of housing-sector topics relevant to student landlords.
We connected with many student landlords at our exhibition stand, and our CEO, Irving Hill, took part in two workshop panels, offering guidance on navigating the Renters’ Rights Act and outlining our exemption.
The highlight video can be viewed below:
Is your property still available for next year? 🏡
If your property is still on the market or you have any questions regarding current demand, please get in touch with Ruta Svedkauskaite (Sales Manager) who will advise on potential options to help let your property in time for the 26/27 academic year.
Christmas office closure
Sulets will be closed for the Christmas period from 5pm on Fri 19th December 2025, and will re-open at 9am on Mon 5th January 2026.
We would like to wish all landlords a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Thank you for your support throughout this year, we look forward to working with you all in 2026 and beyond!
£500 landlord referral
Sulets are actively looking to sign up new landlords in Leicester. If you know of anyone who could benefit from the Sulets service, then please let us know. The more landlords like you that we have on board, the more students we can help.
If you recommend a new landlord to us, we will offer you a £500 cash referral payment if they sign up and we let their property!
Please contact Ruta Svedkauskaite (Sales Manager) who will be happy to help and can offer valuations on potential rental incomes in the student sector.
Terms & conditions:
Sulets will pay £500 to any existing landlord referring a new landlord who hasn’t previously rented a property through us and whose property we subsequently rent for the forthcoming year. The payment is for each new landlord introduced. There is no limit on the number of individual referrals that can be made.