Accommodation

Before agreeing to rent a property, take time to understand the tenancy agreement, how much you will need to pay and what responsibilities you will have.

A tenancy agreement is legally binding. Before signing, check:

• the amount of rent and when it must be paid
• the type of tenancy being offered and how either you or the landlord can end it
• which bills are included
• how the deposit will be protected
• whether you need a guarantor
• whether you will be jointly responsible for the rent with your housemates.

Most private assured tenancies are now periodic, which means they continue on a rolling basis without a fixed end date. Different rules may apply to halls, lodgings and some other types of student accommodation. Check what type of agreement you are being offered and how much notice you must give before leaving

Your landlord should provide the required information about your tenancy in writing. Read it carefully and make sure the rent, payment dates, landlord’s contact details and arrangements for ending the tenancy are clear. Do not rely on verbal promises, and ask for any agreed changes to be confirmed in writing.

Rent in advance

A landlord or letting agent must not ask for, encourage or accept rent before both you and the landlord have signed the tenancy agreement.

After the agreement has been signed but before the tenancy begins, you can normally be asked to pay no more than one month’s rent in advance. Different calculations apply where rent is payable more frequently than monthly.

Once the tenancy has started, your landlord cannot require you to pay rent before the payment date stated in the agreement, although you can choose to pay early.

The Competition and Markets Authority provides guidance on unfair contract terms. Shelter also explains your rights when renting a shared home.

If you are unsure whether a contract is fair, email suadvice@bnu.ac.uk before signing or paying any money.

Download the National Union of Students' house hunting checklist

Your landlord or letting agent must follow rules about deposits, tenancy fees, rent increases and asking you to leave.

Tenancy deposits

If you pay a tenancy deposit, it will usually need to be protected in an approved tenancy deposit scheme. Your landlord should also provide information explaining where the deposit is protected and how the scheme works. For most private tenancies, a refundable tenancy deposit is capped at five weeks’ rent where the annual rent is below £50,000, or six weeks’ rent where the annual rent is £50,000 or more.

Keep:

• proof that you paid the deposit
• your tenancy agreement
• the property inventory
• photographs from when you moved in
• emails or messages from your landlord or agent.

You can check whether your tenancy deposit is protected and read more about tenancy deposit rules on the Shelter website.

Tenancy fees

Most tenancy fees are banned. However, you may still be charged in limited circumstances, including:

• the reasonable cost of replacing a lost key or security device
• interest on rent that is at least 14 days overdue, where the legal requirements are met
• changing the tenancy at your request, normally capped at £50 unless higher reasonable costs can be evidenced
• ending the tenancy without giving the required notice, where this causes the landlord a genuine financial loss or the letting agent reasonable costs.

Read more about letting agent and tenancy fees.

Rent increases

Your landlord can normally increase your rent only once in a 12-month period. They cannot normally increase it during the first 12 months of a new tenancy.

The landlord must use the correct legal form and give you at least two months’ notice. You may be able to challenge the increase through the First-tier Tribunal if you believe it is higher than the market rent for a similar property.

Renters’ Rights Act

The Renters’ Rights Act introduced changes to the rights of private renters in England. These include changes to eviction rules, tenancy arrangements, rent increases, rental bidding and requests to keep pets.

The Renters’ Rights Act introduced significant changes for most private renters in England from 1 May 2026.

Key protections include:

• the end of new Section 21 “no-fault” evictions
• rolling periodic tenancies for most assured private renters
• limits on how often rent can be increased
• a ban on landlords and agents accepting offers above the advertised rent
• limits on the amount of rent that can be required in advance
• protection against being refused a tenancy because you receive benefits or have children
• the right to ask permission to keep a pet.

These rules do not apply in exactly the same way to every type of accommodation. Different rules may apply if you live in halls, purpose-built student accommodation, with your landlord as a lodger or under another type of licence or tenancy.

Read the government’s guide to the Renters’ Rights Act and our Renters' Right Act guide for BNU students.

If you have received a rent increase, unexpected charge or notice asking you to leave, email suadvice@bnu.ac.uk.

Contact the Advice Centre if you are experiencing problems with the condition of your accommodation, your landlord or the people you live with.

Repairs and unsafe accommodation

Report repairs to your landlord or letting agent in writing and keep a copy. Include photographs where possible and explain how the problem is affecting you.

Seek advice promptly if your accommodation has:

• serious damp or mould;
• no heating or hot water;
• unsafe electrical equipment;
• gas-safety concerns;
• insecure doors or windows;
• serious pest problems.

Do not stop paying rent without first receiving specialist advice.

Problems with your landlord

Keep copies of your tenancy agreement, notices, emails and messages if:

• your landlord is entering the property without appropriate notice;
• repairs are not being completed;
• you are being threatened or harassed;
• you have been told to leave;
• you believe you have been charged unfairly.

Problems with housemates

Living with other people can sometimes be difficult. It can help to agree expectations about cleaning, shared bills, noise and overnight guests at the beginning of the tenancy.

Try to address disagreements early and calmly. However, contact us promptly if the situation involves threats, harassment, discrimination, unpaid shared bills or concerns about your safety.

If you are named on a joint tenancy, you may remain responsible for the full rent even if another tenant does not pay their share.

For more information about renting rights, visit Shelter’s housing advice pages.

Leaving a tenancy early

Moving out does not automatically end your tenancy or your responsibility for rent.

If you have a fixed-term tenancy and want to leave before it ends, you may need to:

• use a break clause in your agreement;
• reach an agreement with your landlord;
• find a replacement tenant, where this is permitted;
• continue paying rent until the tenancy legally ends.

Shelter provides a short explanation of how to use a break clause.

If one person wants to remain in a jointly rented property, the existing tenancy may still need to be ended correctly and replaced with a new agreement. Until this happens, all named tenants may remain responsible for the rent.

Get advice before returning your keys, moving out or assuming that your tenancy has ended.

Council tax

Households where everyone is a full-time student are normally exempt from council tax. Different rules may apply if you live with someone who is not a full-time student.

Read the government’s council tax guidance for full-time students.

TV licensing and household bills

Agree with your housemates how rent, energy, water, internet and other shared bills will be divided. Keep records of payments and check whose name is on each account.

Depending on how you watch or record television programmes, you may need a TV licence. Visit the TV Licensing website for students.

If a relationship breaks down or someone moves out, check how this affects your tenancy and shared bills before making changes.