New Renters’ Rights for Students (England, from 2026)

What BNU students need to know about the Renters’ Rights Bill 

1. What’s Changing? 

The Renters’ Rights Bill (expected to become law in 2026) will overhaul how student renting works in England. 
The biggest change: no more fixed-term tenancies. 

• All tenancies will become monthly, “periodic” contracts. 

• You can leave anytime by giving 2 months’ notice. 

• Landlords can only ask you to leave using specific “grounds for possession” — no more surprise “no-fault evictions”. 

If you drop out or move, you’ll no longer be stuck paying rent for the whole academic year. 

1. Deposits & Upfront Costs 

• Deposit cap stays the same: max 5 weeks’ rent (Tenant Fees Act 2019). 

• Advance rent limit: landlords can only take 1 month’s rent upfront. 

• Your deposit must be protected in one of three official schemes: 
  DPS, MyDeposits, or TDS. 

You can check or claim back wrongly held deposits via Citizens Advice or Shelter. 

If your deposit isn’t protected, you can claim 1–3× its value in court. If your landlord didn’t follow deposit rules - Citizens Advice 

1. Rent & Increases 

• Rent can only increase once per year and only with proper Section 13 notice. 

• Landlords can’t ask you to bid higher than the advertised price — that’s now banned. 

• You’ll pay rent monthly, not termly. 

• Discounts or “cheaper summer rent” will no longer be allowed (to prevent unfair pricing). 

Shelter Legal England - Statutory rules for rent increases for assured tenants - Shelter England, Section 13: A landlord’s guide to rent increases | 

1. Staying or Leaving 

• You can give 2 months’ notice to end your tenancy. 

• Landlords can only evict under specific rules: Ground 4A: to let the home to a new group of full-time students (summer only, with 4 months’ notice). Ground 1/1A: if selling or moving in (can’t happen in the first 12 months). 

• This means you can’t be evicted mid-course unless there’s a valid legal reason. 

Renters Rights Bill: private tenants - Shelter England 

1. International Students 

• Advance rent requests (like 6 months upfront) will be banned. 

• Landlords will likely ask for a UK guarantor instead. 

• If you don’t have one, professional guarantor services like Housing Hand or Lettings Hub exist — but they charge fees. 

• These services must be optional and cannot be required. 

The Lettings Hub, Trusted Rent Guarantor Service | Housing Hand 

1. If You Live in a Shared House (HMO) 

• Any house with 5 + people from 2 + households = HMO, requiring a council licence. 

• Check your property’s licence on Buckinghamshire Council’s website. 

• If one tenant leaves, a joint tenancy can now end for everyone — so communication is key. 

• Some landlords will switch to individual room contracts to avoid this. 

Understanding HMOs: Rules, Licensing and Tenant Rights | Contend Legal  

1. Extra Support 

BNU’s Accommodation Team can review tenancy agreements before you sign, explain unclear clauses, and provide additional support if issues arise. please do not hesitate to contact us on 01494 603063 or email accommodation@bnu.ac.uk.