Statutory Instruments
2026 No. 327
HOUSING, ENGLAND
The Student Accommodation (Miscellaneous Provisions) (England) Regulations 2026
Made
18th March 2026
Laid before Parliament
20th March 2026
Coming into force
1st May 2026
The Secretary of State makes these Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by paragraph 8(1), (2) and (2A) of Schedule 1 to the Housing Act 1988(1), section 233(1) and (4) of, and paragraph 3A(1), (2) and (3) of Schedule 14 to, the Housing Act 2004(2) and paragraph 13(3) and (4) of Schedule 6 to the Renters’ Rights Act 2025(3).
The Secretary of State has taken reasonable steps to consult the persons mentioned in section 233(2)(b) of the Housing Act 2004 and is satisfied as to publication arrangements as required by section 233(3) of that Act.
Citation, commencement, extent and application
1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Student Accommodation (Miscellaneous Provisions) (England) Regulations 2026.
(2) These Regulations come into force on 1st May 2026.
(3) These Regulations extend to England and Wales and apply in relation to accommodation in England.
Amendment of the Student Accommodation (Codes of Management Practice and Specified Educational Establishments) (England) Regulations 2024
2.—(1) The Student Accommodation (Codes of Management Practice and Specified Educational Establishments) (England) Regulations 2024(4) are amended as follows.
(2) In regulation 3 (approval of codes of practice)—
(a)in paragraph (1), for the words from “living” to “students)” substitute “certain houses in multiple occupation and accommodation falling within paragraph 3A of Schedule 14 to the Act (buildings occupied by students: England)”;
(b)in paragraph (2), after sub-paragraph (b), insert—
“(c)ANUK/Unipol Code of Standards for Larger Developments for student accommodation not managed and controlled by educational establishments dated 27th February 2026(5).”.
(3) Omit regulation 4 (Revocations and savings).
(4) For regulation 4A (Educational establishments specified for certain purposes of the Housing Act 2004), substitute—
“4A.—(1) The members from time to time of a housing management code of practice specified in paragraph (2) are specified as—
(a)a description of educational establishment for the purposes of paragraph 3A(1)(a) of Schedule 14 to the Housing Act 2004;
(b)a description of person for the purposes of paragraph 3A(1)(b) of that Schedule.
(2) The codes of practice are—
(a)ANUK/Unipol Code of Standards for Larger Developments for student accommodation managed and controlled by educational establishments dated 5th September 2024(6);
(b)Universities UK/GuildHE Accommodation Code of Practice for Student Housing dated 11th March 2025(7).”.
(5) Omit the Schedule.
Amendment of the Assured and Protected Tenancies (Lettings to Students) Regulations 1998
3.—(1) The Assured and Protected Tenancies (Lettings to Students) Regulations 1998(8) are amended as follows.
(2) In regulation 5—
(a)omit the “and” after paragraph (a); and
(b)after paragraph (b) insert—
“(c)a body which is a member from time to time of the ANUK/Unipol Code of Standards for Larger Developments for student accommodation not managed and controlled by educational establishments dated 27th February 2026.”.
(3) After regulation 5 insert—
“5A. The ANUK/Unipol Code of Standards for Larger Developments for student accommodation not managed and controlled by educational establishments dated 27th February 2026 is specified(9) for the purposes of paragraph 8(1)(b) of Schedule 1 to the Housing Act 1988.”.
Code of practice specified for the purposes of paragraph 13 of Schedule 6 to the Renters’ Rights Act 2025
4. The ANUK/Unipol Code of Standards for Larger Developments for student accommodation not managed and controlled by educational establishments dated 27th February 2026 is specified(10) for the purposes of paragraph 13(3) of Schedule 6 to the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 (transitional provision for student accommodation ground).
Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government.
Matthew Pennycook
Minister of State
18th March 2026
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
1988 c. 50; paragraph 8 of Schedule 1 was amended by section 32(2) of the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 (c. 26) and paragraph 8(2A) was inserted by section 32(2)(b) of that Act.
2004 c. 34; paragraph 3A of Schedule 14 was inserted by section 62 of the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 (c. 26). For the definition of appropriate national authority see section 261(1) of the Housing Act 2004 (c. 34).
S.I. 2024/947, amended by S.I. 2025/431.
This code is available at https://www.nationalcode.org/download-codes. A hard copy can be obtained from the National Codes Administrator, 155-157 Woodhouse Lane, Leeds, LS2 3ED.
This code was approved by S.I. 2024/947. It is available at https://www.nationalcode.org/download-codes. A hard copy can be obtained from the National Codes Administrator, 155-157 Woodhouse Lane, Leeds, LS2 3ED.
This code was approved by S.I. 2025/431, which amended S.I. 2024/947. This code is available at https://www.acop.ac.uk. A hard copy can be obtained from College & University Business Officers (CUBO), Charnwood Building, Holywell Park, Ashby Road, Loughborough University, Leicestershire, LE11 3AQ, who administer the code on behalf of Universities UK.
S.I. 1998/1967, amended by S.I. 2010/671; there are other amending instruments but none is relevant.
See paragraph 8(2) of Schedule 1 to the Housing Act 1988 for the definition of “specified”.
See paragraph 13(4) of Schedule 6 to the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 for the definition of “specified”.