A statement from the Elected Officer Team: Luke – Students’ Union President, Charlotte – VP Education, Joe – VP Welfare and Sophie – VP Activities.

We are delighted to announce that the Renters’ Rights Bill has passed key stages in Parliament, delivering crucial benefits for students. Under this legislation, landlords can no longer demand multiple months’ rent in advance, reducing the financial strain on many – especially those from low-income and international backgrounds.

We also welcome the amendment preventing landlords from locking students into contracts more than six months in advance. This change will allow students to settle into university life without the added pressure of securing next year’s accommodation immediately.

Despite these positive steps, we believe further reforms are needed. We continue to support Alex Sobel’s amendment, which aims to eliminate the requirement for guarantors. This would make housing more accessible for first-in-family and international students who face additional barriers to securing safe and affordable accommodation.

Every student deserves a stable place to live and the financial support to thrive in their studies. While recent progress is encouraging, we remain committed to working with MPs and other partners to achieve a fairer, more inclusive system for all.

Need accommodation support?

UCLan has a range of support services available to you, if you're looking for help with housing or accommodation:

• Accommodation Services: 01772 895000
• Independent Housing Advice: suadvice@uclan.ac.uk
• Private Accommodation Support: privateaccommodation@uclan.ac.uk
• Approved Private Accommodation Providers: uclanstudentpad.co.uk/accommodation