For years, the start of term has predictably marked the arrival (or return) of students to their rental properties, with tenancies filled like clockwork months in advance, giving landlords and letting agents welcome certainty about the year ahead.
But that’s about to change.
With the Renters’ Rights Bill scrapping fixed-term contracts in favour of rolling tenancies, student rentals will soon look very different. Mid-course exits, unpredictable summer voids and tougher possession rules are all on the horizon – and landlords and letting agents are already worried.
Our research, covered extensively in the media, shows 34% of agents fear the student letting cycle could collapse, while one in five landlords have already pulled out of the sector altogether and others are seriously reconsidering whether to do so.
Rising admin, misaligned tenancy cycles and difficulties re-letting off-peak are adding to the pressure making agents worry about a serious hit to their student rentals income.
The good news? With the right systems, agents can still offer stability, keep occupancy high and protect landlord confidence. Alto gives you the tools to do exactly that. It streamlines admin, manages rolling contracts and helps you stay competitive.
Here are 5 ways letting agents can use Alto to protect their income and reduce risk as student rentals change…
1. Tackle summer voids and unpredictable exits
Fixed-term contracts once gave landlords and agents certainty: homes were filled from September through June, often with rent covering the quieter summer months too. That predictability is set to vanish once the Rental Reform Bill kicks in (expected in early 2026).
With rolling tenancies, students can now leave half way through the year and nearly one in five agents say landlords are already bracing for costly summer voids. That potentially means lost income and last-minute scrambling to fill rooms.
This is where Alto makes all the difference. Automated workflows flag notice periods the moment they’re served, giving agents time to plan ahead rather than react in a panic.
Portfolio insights highlight which properties are most at risk, so marketing can start early and gaps are kept to a minimum. The result is smoother transitions for students and steadier income for landlords.
2. Slash admin and compliance chaos
Student lettings already generate huge volumes of paperwork, and the Renters’ Rights Bill is adding even more. Rolling contracts mean more compliance checks, more re-letting tasks and more documentation to keep up with. It’s no surprise that 15% of agents recently told us admin and advertising workloads are rising fast.
Instead of drowning in manual work, agents using Alto can let the system carry the load. Right to Rent checks, rent reviews and compliance tracking run automatically in the background.
Tenancy progression is simplified from end to end, with contracts, certificates and communications managed in one place. By cutting the admin burden, Alto frees up teams to spend more time supporting landlords and tenants, and less time shuffling paperwork.
3. Stay competitive against PBSA
Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) is snapping at the heels of the private rental market. With all-in-one pricing, it’s no wonder many students are tempted. Meanwhile, 11% of agents say it’s getting harder to re-let properties during off-peak months.
Alto gives private letting agents the best tools to compete. Marketing automation pushes listings live across portals instantly, while applicant-matching tools get the right tenants through the door faster.
Built-in comms mean agents can keep interactions personal and responsive – that’s something PBSA simply can’t replicate. Together, those features help keep HMOs occupied and competitive all year round.
4. Deliver strategic landlord advice
Right now, confidence among landlords is shaky. We know from Alto research that one in five has already pulled out of the student market, and another 10% are reconsidering. For agents, this means providing clear, strategic advice has never been more important.
With Alto, you’ve got the data to do it. Portfolio insights reveal accurate pricing, yield projections and retention strategies, while custom reports make it simple to guide landlords through the risks of rolling contracts.
You can even highlight opportunities like short-term summer lets to offset potential income gaps. The more clarity you bring, the stronger your landlord relationships become, and the harder it is for clients to walk away.
5. Keep students happy and settled
Rolling contracts could mean higher churn. Already, 12% of agents report tenancy cycles drifting out of sync with the academic year, creating issues for both tenants and landlords.
Alto helps agents build loyalty with student tenants. Automated CRM tools deliver timely updates, reminders and check-ins, while centralised communication makes it easy to keep groups of sharers on the same page.
The smoother the experience, the more likely students are to stay for the full length of their course. And when tenants stay, landlords stay happy too.
Join over 6,000 agents already using Alto to stay ahead
The Renters’ Rights Bill is rewriting the rules for student rentals – but with Alto, you can stay in control.
See why it’s the last CRM you’ll ever need. Book your free demo today.
