Students are amongst some of the most reliable tenants with just 38% of landlords letting to students who have experienced some arrears in the last year, according to the National Landlords Association (NLA).

This compares with landlords who let to blue collar workers experiencing 59% arrears and those letting to benefit recipients having 71% arrears.

Carolyn Uphill, NLA Chairman, said: “It is encouraging to see such positive figures reported by landlords who let to students. However, it’s important to highlight that letting property to students – indeed, letting to any tenant group, is not an easy win. As a student landlord myself, I know that it can be very hard work and requires the investment of time as many of your tenants are living away from home for the first time. It is this dedication to the relationship that makes letting to students so rewarding.

“As with all tenancies, it’s important to establish a good, professional relationship from the start. It is also essential that you set out fair terms in your tenancy agreement and that both landlord and tenant fully understand their obligations throughout the tenancy. If you get this right then the tenancy generally runs smoothly.”

Student landlords also experience the lowest incidence of voids with only 30% having empty properties in recent months, compared to 40% of landlords who let to families and 49% who let to older couples.

The NLA data shows that student tenants and Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs) offer the highest rental yield at 6.7% and 7% respectively, which is higher than the 6.1% UK average.