As of the 1st of May 2026, new laws effecting private renters will come into effect. This is called the Renters Rights Act 2025.
The WSU Advice Centre Team have put together a helpful guide of what this means for our students. You can see our guidance and FAQs below.
If you are struggling to understand how this affects you, or what your new rights are, please don’t hesitate to get in touch for our support. We understand new legislation can be complicated and our Advisors are here to help you navigate these changes.
1. What is the Renters' Rights Act 2025 and what does it change?
The Renters Rights Act 2025 is a new piece of legislation that aims to transform the rights of private renters in England. The main changes it will make include abolishing 'no-fault' evictions, replacing fixed-term tenancies with open-ended rolling agreements, capping rent increases to once a year, banning rental bidding wars, introducing a formal right to request a pet, and making it illegal for landlords to discriminate against tenants who receive benefits or have children. It also paves the way for a new Private Rented Sector (PRS) Database, a Landlord Ombudsman, and eventually a Decent Homes Standard for private rentals.
2. When did the Renters' Rights Act come into force?
The core of the Act will come into force on the 1st May 2026. This includes abolishing section 21 No-Fault Evictions, the move to periodic tenancies, rent increase restrictions, anti-discrimination policies and pet rights.
There will be further phases rolled out in late 2026, including the Private Rented Sector Database and Landlords Ombudsman.
3. Does the Act apply to all rental properties, including student accommodation?
This depends on the type of accommodation you are living in.
- The act applies to all private rented tenancies in England – this means you will be affected if you are renting privately off campus, e.g. from a landlord who owns the house, and the full protections of the Act will apply to you.
- The Act does not apply to University owned accommodation – they are exempt and can still offer fixed term tenancy agreements. This means you will not be affected if you live in University Accommodation (mainly on campus at Warwick).
- Purpose Build Student Accommodation are also exempt- this means you will not be affected if you are living in student accommodation provided by a private operator who is a member of a government approved code of practice, such as the Unipol National Code, (usually off campus at Warwick).
4. Does the Act cover purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) and university-managed halls?
No, if you are living in a PBSA or University owned accommodation, the changes do not apply to you.
5. What is an Assured Shorthold Tenancy (AST) and does it still exist under the new Act?
An Assured Shorthold Tenancy (AST) is the most common type of tenancy agreement that private renters sign. If you are a student who is renting from a landlord, you most likely signed an AST which is for a fixed term (usually 6 or 12 months).
From the 1st May 2026, ASTs will be replaced with Assured Periodic Tenancies – these have no fixed end date, meaning you can stay as long as you want unless your landlord has a valid legal reason to ask you to leave.
6. What is a periodic tenancy and how does it differ from a fixed-term contract?
A fixed term tenancy runs until a set end date – usually 1st July- 1st August for student tenancies – if you are a student privately renting, you most likely signed a fixed term tenancy agreement.
This is being replaced with an Assured Periodic Tenancy which does not give a set end date – it keeps rolling until either party give notice.
7. My tenancy started before the Act came into force — am I protected?
Yes. The new legislation applies to both new and existing tenancy agreements from the 1st May 2025. This means that if you signed an agreement before the 1st May 2025, it will automatically be converted to an Assured Periodic Tenancy – the transition is automatic and you do not need to do anything for the changes to apply.
8. Can you give me an example of how the two months’ notice will work?
If you give notice, it needs to be given in line with the tenancy period (this is usually the day you pay rent on) on either the last or first day.
For example: If your tenancy period runs from the 4th of each month to the 3rd of the next month this would mean:
- The first day of your tenancy period would be the 4th of the month.
- The last day of your tenancy period would be the 3rd of the next month.
- Your notice would have to end on either the 3rd or 4th of the month.
Shelter provides a template to Give a notice to quit to end your tenancy if you’re unsure how to word it - Give a notice to quit to end your tenancy - Shelter England (Although please note you would need to give 2 months’ notice/8 weeks, not the one month/4 weeks outlined in the template.)
9. What happens if I serve two months’ notice in a Joint Tenancy Agreement?
If you have signed a tenancy agreement where all tenants have signed as one party, you have signed a Joint Tenancy Agreement. From the 1st May 2025, if one tenants serves their two months' notice, the tenancy agreement will end for all tenants – however the landlord may choose to sign a new agreement with the remaining tenants.
10. Who can I speak to if I have any questions about the new act?
You can seek advice from several sources, including;