(Please note: the following information does not apply to university campus accommodation or most qualifying Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA), such as Unite Students PBSA and accommodation such as Northgate Studios, Tramways Roost, Trinity Hall, and The Towpath by Roost in Chester)
As of the 1st of May 2026, the long-awaited Renters’ Rights Act has come into effect.
All private tenants should receive formal documentation advising that UK tenancy law has changed, and the Renters’ Rights Act has come into effect. This legislation introduces new rules, including the removal of fixed-term tenancies and the abolition of Section 21 notices.
You should have been provided with a detailed document from your Landlord, outlining these changes, including the updated rights and responsibilities of both landlords and tenants.
Assured Shorthold Tenancies will be abolished on 1 May 2026. Any tenancy previously called an Assured Shorthold Tenancy will automatically become an Assured Periodic Tenancy instead – your tenancy will not end because of this change.
What does it mean for UoC private tenant students?
Previously, most students renting in private shared houses or flats will have had a fixed-term Assured Shorthold Tenancy (AST) with a private landlord.
However, this has now changed and for most private student renters, ASTs and fixed-term tenancies will end and existing tenancies will usually become periodic (rolling) tenancies.
This means that, instead of being tied to the full fixed term of your original contract, tenants will usually be able to leave by giving 2 months’ notice, unless they are living in exempt accommodation such as qualifying PBSA or university-managed halls. Landlords will also no longer be able to use the Section 21 “no fault” eviction.
This is a massive change for students, especially those who;
- Do not want to commit to a 12-month contract
- Want to leave their accommodation early due to disagreements with landlords or fellow tenants
- Who wish to leave their private accommodation as they are transferring university
- Who have failed to progress with their studies and wish to end their tenancy early
- Who are not happy with the accommodation after moving in
- Who cannot afford to pay termly rent in advance
Previously, students could not leave their private rented accommodation without express consent from the Landlord (which is highly unlikely) until the fixed term ends. If the student left before the fixed term ends, they remained liable to pay the full rent until the fixed term ended (and could face court action if the full rent is not paid)
This has now changed.
There is no more fixed term assured shorthold tenancies (AST). If you had a fixed term AST, it will have become a ‘periodic’ assured tenancy, meaning it will not have a set end date and will instead be a ‘rolling’ monthly or weekly tenancy.
What else is different?
- Landlords can only be able to demand 1 months’ rent in advance.
- You will have these new rights even if your agreement still says ‘assured shorthold tenancy’.
- New tenants will get a written statement of terms before agreeing to a tenancy.
- All tenancies will need to have a written tenancy agreement in future, that includes specific information.
- Landlords won’t need to change or re-issue existing written tenancy agreements. Instead, they will need to provide tenants with a copy of a government-produced information sheet, explaining how the reforms may have affected the tenancy.
- You will also have better protection from eviction because your landlord needs a reason to give you notice to leave.
Ending your periodic tenancy
To reiterate, the following information relates to private Landlord properties only. It does not apply to campus accommodation or purpose-built student accommodation.
AST’s have been abolished and replaced with periodic assured tenancies. This means that tenants can now simply provide 2 months’ notice to end their tenancies (just make sure that you can provide proof the notice was served in writing, with acknowledgment from the landlord where possible).
This is fantastic news for the many students who have desperately sought advice and support to attempt to be released from legally binding, restrictive contracts or who are forced to sign 12-month contracts when they may only be studying for 8-10 months.
We’re sure there will be hiccups and attempts to restrict students from taking advantage of the law change and that’s when you need to contact the CSU advice team.
The main changes resulting from the Renters Rights Act
| Before 1 May 2026 | From 1 May 2026 |
| You can be given a section 21 eviction notice for no reason. | Your landlord will need a legal reason to evict you with a section 8 notice. |
| There are no limits on rent in advance. | Your landlord can only ask for 1 month’s rent in advance. |
| Your landlord might pressure you to agree to a rent increase at any time. | Your landlord can only put the rent up once a year. They must give at least 2 months’ notice. |
| You might have a fixed term tenancy which makes it hard to leave early (unless there is a break clause in your contract) | You will have a periodic tenancy which makes it easier to leave by giving 2 months’ notice. |
| A six-month limit on advance tenancies (which means you can only sign a tenancy within 6 months of the start date). | This gives students breathing space to decide if they really want to stay with the same landlord, property, and housemates. |
| Your landlord can refuse permission for you to have a pet. They do not need a reason. | You will have the right to ask your landlord for permission to keep a pet. Your landlord will only be able to say no if they have a good reason. |
We will endeavour to continue updating our students as the law change commences.
We hope the changes benefit our students and wish you all the best of luck finding the right property and landlord to suit your needs.
If you have any concerns about your private rented accommodation, the CSU advice team are now providing low level housing advice. If you would like to speak to an SU Adviser about your private accommodation, please book an appointment with us here
(*we will need to see a copy of your housing contract to be able to provide appropriate advice so please ensure you provide this to you adviser prior to your appointment).
Relevant links
Best wishes from the CSU Advice team!
