Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) - notice period survey: responses summary

4. Comparison to Previous Research

Accounting for the limitations identified the two surveys suggest that students and providers hold differing views regarding notice periods.

• The student survey found that most student respondents were critical of the current arrangements in PBSA, and were in favour of change to notice periods. There was little or no consistency on what this change should be, or why or how it should be implemented.
• The provider survey found a clear consensus among most providers to maintain the status quo i.e. no change to notice periods.

Overall, these simplified results of the student and provider surveys appear to be broadly consistent with previous research. Some examples are briefly described below.

A 2022 report (Gibb et al 2022) by the UK Collaborative Centre for Housing Evidence (CaCHE) found that overall:

• A minority view from a students’ perspective was that private PBSA is highly deregulated, is often very expensive, there is some poor quality accommodation and poor practice, and a view that current redress mechanisms may not work effectively or consistently.
• The consensus among suppliers was to defending the system as it currently operates (i.e. not having 28 days’ notice periods), or proposing incremental change only.

Similarly, Scottish Government (2022a) research reported results that appear to be approximately in agreement with the findings of this study:

• Student representative organisations raised the issue of notice periods as a particular concern. There were calls for a specific regulatory regime for PBSA, to ensure that students had access to the same protections as private renters e.g. availability of recourse when things went wrong, and the right to give notice.
• Providers expressed concern about the possibility of enabling students to give notice on PBSA tenancies, as in a private tenancy. Both institutional and private providers highlighted that changes to notice periods could make PBSA a less attractive investment option, undermine the viability of some PBSA schemes, and potentially lead to increased rental costs for students.

An analysis of an earlier consultation (Scottish Government 2022b) reported similar findings:

• ‘Union, student or campaign group’ respondents were among those who proposed that all tenants should have the same rights and protections irrespective of their accommodation type. In particular, it was argued that students living in PBSA should be able to give 28 days’ notice to end their tenancies.
• Some ‘Private landlord, letting agent or their representative bodies’ respondents also thought there should be parity for student lets, but argued that this could be achieved by allowing PRS tenancies to have a fixed term. Other respondents highlighted the differences between PBSA and private housing, such as different letting cycles and the scale of investment needed. It was argued that allowing students in PBSA the right to terminate a lease at 28 days’ notice would have a serious impact on PBSA supply.