My student let hasn't rented this year. What should I do?

Why are student lets struggling?

Demand for student houses has become patchier in a lot of towns. Purpose built student blocks have pulled some students away from shared houses, and intake numbers can swing from year to year. If your house was full every September for a decade, it can be a shock when it isn't.

None of that means your property is a bad one. It just means the people who used to fill it are going elsewhere, for now at least.

What is an empty student house costing you?

Every empty month still has bills. Mortgage, insurance, utilities if they're in your name, council tax once there are no student exemptions, plus any licensing and compliance costs. Empty houses also pick up problems nobody spots. It's a bit like paying for a gym membership you never use, except the gym is also slowly getting damp.

Can a student house work as a short let?

Often, yes. Student houses tend to have several bedrooms, a decent kitchen and sometimes parking. That's exactly what contractor teams look for. At Renzo we target longer bookings from contractors and relocating families, which suits a bigger house far better than weekend tourists.

You'll probably need to change some furniture. Students will put up with a lumpy mattress. Paying guests won't. Good beds, fast wifi and a spotless bathroom matter most, and you shouldn't spend money on much beyond that. Our guide on whether your property is suitable has a fuller checklist.

Stop gap or permanent switch?

Either works. As a stop gap, you can short let until the next intake and then go back to students if demand picks up. Our contracts are flexible, so the property comes back to you empty with no tenant to remove.

Plenty of landlords never go back, though. No arrears, no end of year damage battles, and landlords typically earn 30% to 40% more than a buy to let with us. Student lets can be one of the more stressful types of letting, and some people are simply relieved to stop. Our comparison of Airbnb and buy to let sets out the trade offs honestly.

What should I check before switching?

• Your mortgage allows short lets, or you can move to a holiday let mortgage
• Your insurance covers short lets, as standard landlord cover usually won't
• Any HMO licence conditions and what changes if you stop letting to students
• Gas, electrical and fire safety are all in date

Check those points with a specialist where needed. Renzo tracks compliance and books certificate renewals before they're due, so once you're set up you don't have to keep the dates in your head.

When isn't it worth it?

If the house is in a street with no demand beyond students, or it needs serious work, a short let may not pay. We'll tell you that straight. If you're new to all this, read what short let management involves first.