Renters Rights Act – What does this mean for YOU?! 

In case you missed it, the Renters Right Act came into effect across England on Friday 1 May. This act overhauls current private renting laws, in order to improve protections for renters and laying out guidelines for landlords.  

Here are the main points that to know about renting (including in student houses and HMOs): 

The abolition of Section 21 ‘No-Fault’ Evictions: 

This means that under the new rules, landlords will need to give a valid reason if they wish to evict you from their property, meaning they can no longer evict you automatically by giving you two months’ notice. Reasons for eviction could be:  

• If you have not paid your rent on time.  

• If you, others living with you, or visitors commit antisocial behaviour in or near the property. 

• If you, or others living with you, do not maintain the property properly. 

• If your tenancy was for certain purposes, for example it was connected to your employment, or was for temporary or supported accommodation. 

Furthermore, you legally cannot be required to leave under some grounds for the first 12 months of a tenancy. Some reasons that would be allowed could be: 

• If your landlord intends to sell the property 

• If your landlord or their family member wants to move into the property. 

Changes to Rent Increases:

Within your tenancy agreement, there may contain a ‘rent review’ clause, that gives landlords the power to increase the rent multiple times a year. Under new rules, this has been halted.  

• Landlords are now only able to increase the rent once per year, they will need to give you at least 2 months’ notice prior to the increase taking effects, and the rent increase must be no higher than the open market rate. If you think that this increase is not, you are able to challenge it through a tribunal. 

Changes to advance rent payments: 

Previously, you could be asked to pay multiple months of rent upfront before moving in, often putting students into more financial hardship. This new legislation, only allows landlords to ask for one month’s rent in advance, meaning less stress for students about affordability! 

Changes to how you can end your tenancy: 

Under the new legislation, you are able to give two months notice (or less than two months if it says so in your tenancy agreement) to end your tenancy. Although, it's worth noting. For students who live with other students, or those living with university friends, be careful ending your tennancy. As when you end the tenancy for yourself, this also ends it for the other members of your household. Alwaye be sure to communicate with your housemates.

Further information on student tenancies: 

Your landlord may be able to evict you at the end of the academic year. To do so, they must give you at least four months’ notice, with the notice period ending between 1 June and 30 September, depending on when your tenancy began. 

However, your landlord can only rely on this ground if they have already provided you with written notice stating that they may choose to use it. For example, if they intend to evict you at the end of the 2025/26 academic year, they can serve notice between 1 May and 30 July 2026. In all cases, they must give you at least two months’ notice. 

This legislation is ultimately about giving renters greater security and control over their tenancies, strengthen their rights, and ensure that landlords comply with the law or face potential legal action.