What now for student lettings as autumn term finishes early?

Two thorny subjects are back on the agenda for letting agents - break clauses and what happens when students leave their accommodation because of Coronavirus restrictions.

The issues have come to a head thanks to new guidance for students to ensure their safe return home, in a phased fashion, earlier than usual for Christmas.

Under the plans students in  England will be required to complete the current national lockdown until December 2, remaining in their current accommodation. 

Then between December 3 and December 9 a ‘student travel window’ will open, during which students will be expected to return home on a staggered basis, set by universities and colleges in a bid to avert mass travel from or to any single lo cations. 

Universities and colleges will thereafter move their education online so students can continue working until the expected end of the autumn term, closer to Christmas itself. 

If a student tests positive for Coronavirus before their departure they will need to remain in self-isolation for the required period of 10 days. 

This begs the obvious questions, which earlier this year were raised by student and consumer groups, as to whether there should be break clauses for students when renting privately, and whether that entitles them to cease rent payments when they leave their accommodation earlier than expected.