Hi, concerning student properties, I understand that there are no fixed term contracts now, but where the rental term is generally around 11 months, can I readvertise and sign a new contract in advance, if I still have tenants in situ. E.g, new contracts are often signed early in the year for a September move in date. Thanks
No. Regadless of any fixed term in any AST contract, the fixed term will become invalid on 1st May 2026.
As a student Landlord it is the ‘eviction grounds’ that you need to familiarise yourself with if you wish to plan to evict in time for a new student cohort.
Unless @Karl11 knows differently, I don’t think there is any limitation on how far ahead you can sign the contract or how far ahead you can advertise.
Obviously you are taking a risk that the current tenants don’t move out then you have a problem because you would need to break the new contract or find something else suitable and acceptable for the new tenants but actually you always had that risk before as well if you signed before current tenants left (even with s21)
Might be some way you can agree in principle but formally sign the contract nearer the time when you are more confident current tenants have /are going to leave.
Current tenants will be able to give notice in may or june to move out sooner and avoid paying rent in july/aug if they don’t need to be there over summer so you may find you have a void. Will make Masters or PhD students who need a place for a year more attractive than undergrads
Good luck
Maybe I misunderstood the question
You would risk being in breach of contract with the new applicants if the existing tenants didn’t leave. That could be costly.
However there is a max limit between the time for accepting a holding deposit and signing the contract of 15 days so if you use holding deposit on OR you have to sign within that time unless you return the holding deposit and do the holding deposit again later to be able to sign later
Best
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You can vary the 15 day period to a mutually agreeable date. I suspect that this concession had student tenancies in mind as theyre otherwise useless for such properties.
In my view, the holding deposit route is much safer for reserving properties than early contract signing.
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