Everything you need to know as a private property renter

The Renters' Rights Act 2025 is a set of changes to how private renting tenancies work. It'll take place from 1st May 2026 and will have an impact on existing tenancies in the current 25/26 academic year as well as future tenancies. 

So if you're already living in a private rented property, this guidance is for you. If you currently live in halls or a PBSA, your experience won't change under the new law. 

Those who have signed for the next academic year will take up residency after the Act has changed - however, it's still useful to know. 

Your rights

• No more 'no-fault' evictions: Landlords can no longer evict tenants without a valid reason.
• Goodbye fixed contracts: Fixed-term contracts are being replaced with rolling monthly agreements - giving renters more flexibility.
• Notice periods: You can give two months notice at any time to end the tenancy. If you have a joint tenancy, when you give two months notice, it ends the tenancy for ALL of you, so please discuss this with flatmates first. This can be useful if your circumstances change during your studies.
• Decent Homes Standard: A measure that has been extended to private rentals, which will improve standards of accommodation.
• Advanced rent payments: Landlords can't demand more than one month's rent in advance once a tenancy agreement has started, reducing the financial burden. 
• Restricted rent increases: Your rent can only increase once per year during a tenancy, and landlords must give you at least two months' notice before the increase starts. 
• Requesting a pet: Even if your contract says 'no pets', you can ask permission to keep a pet and your landlord cannot unreasonably refuse. 

If you are currently renting:

Most student renters are on an AST (Assured Shorthold Tenancy). AST's will automatically convert to assured periodic tenancies (i.e. rolling monthly) once the relevant parts of the The Renters' Rights Act 2025 come into force.

If you have signed a tenancy but haven't moved in:

If you've signed a tenancy before 1st May 2026 but haven't moved in, the fixed end date on the original agreement will not apply. The agreement will run as a month-to-month tenancy. If you want to leave, you will have to give two months' notice, but this can be done at any point once the tenancy has begun.

If you haven't signed anything by 1st May 2026:

Everything you sign on or after 1st May 2026 has to be a new, monthly 'periodic' tenancy. There are no fixed terms. Your landlord should provide government-issued guidance on your new rights when you sign the tenancy - make sure to ask for this information. 

If you have any questions or want to know more information, take a look at our: 

Know your rights as a renter to make private rented housing easier. 

For further information on Private Accommodation contact the Housing Services team and remember they also offer the option of a free contract reading service.