Since 1 May 2026, when the Renters’ Rights Act moved most private sector tenancies from fixed terms to periodic, Ground 4A has become fundamental to running a successful student HMO (house in multiple occupation). And the time to serve it is now, at the start of the new academic year.
For HMO landlords, Ground 4A is key to managing their operational risk in this new rental landscape. It gives them the ability to regain possession of their properties between 1 June and 30 September, meaning they can prepare the homes to rent out to another cohort of students for the following academic year. But Ground 4A must be built into the tenancy process from the outset, as it has to be served at the start of the tenancy. This means landlords who want to rent out their properties from this autumn, and then have students move out in summer 2027, in line with the academic year, need to serve Ground 4A now.
Graham Hayward, Managing Director of UK rental services provider Housing Hand, explains: “Correct notice procedures and timelines are critical, making Ground 4A something landlords need to plan for and serve now, rather than try to deal with retrospectively. HMO landlords can no longer rely on fixed term tenancies, so have to manager their summer void period differently. Ground 4A is part of that, as is our A-Void™ service, which is specifically designed for student landlords who have served Ground 4A.”
Housing Hand’s A-Void service is an opt in void period cover designed to help student landlords navigate the potential challenges of students leaving their accommodation early. It’s provided at no extra cost to tenants or landlords, covering all Housing Hand student customers. With student renters now able to give two months’ notice at any point in their tenancy, A-Void helps landlords bridge the summer void gap. Hayward continues:
“We don’t expect the ‘new normal’ of life under the Renters’ Rights Act to kick in for HMO landlords until the 2027/28 academic year. Until then, landlords need to think proactively about notice periods, re-letting windows, occupancy planning and the financial consequences of gaps between tenancies in a way they haven’t previously had to. As the new legislation beds in, it’s likely to be a bumpy couple of years for HMOs. Ultimately, Ground 4A provides student landlords with an important route to regaining possession of their properties at the end of the academic cycle – but only if they get the process right from the start and have a strategy for the potential summer void that follows.”
Leave a Comment