Landlords cannot demand more than one month’s rent in advance. 

You can still choose to pay more, but it must be voluntary. 

What this means for students
Pros

• Helpful for international students, who were often asked to pay 6–12 months upfront instead of supplying a guarantor 

Cons

• Landlords may be more likely to request a UK-based guarantor instead

Learn more about guarantors    Need a guarantor? UAL can help!

Landlords can only raise rent once every 12 months and must provide written notice before doing so.

What this means for students

Pros

• Your rent cannot go up unexpectedly mid-year or multiple times, making budgeting more predictable.
• You have the right to challenge unfair or excessive increases through the Housing Tribunal or Ombudsman process.
• Landlords must justify increases with legitimate reasons

Cons

• A rent increase can still happen once per year, so it’s important to check the timing of your notice to avoid surprises
• Some landlords may try to time rent increases to the academic year to match new student cohorts, which could coincide with tuition or accommodation deposits

Rent must now be collected monthly. Rent cannot be collected per week, term or semester.

Any voluntary advance payments must be agreed before any contracts are signed.

What this means for students
Pros

• Rent becomes more manageable with monthly payments
•  You can’t be forced to pay a full term upfront

Cons

• Monthly payments do not align with termly installments most used by student funding agencies (e.g. student finance England) 
• Budgeting and planning may become more difficult for students 

All new tenancies will be open-ended “periodic” tenancies. 

“Periodic” means your tenancy runs month-to-month, instead of ending after a fixed period (like a 6- or 12-month contract). 

You can leave at any time by giving two months’ notice. 

Landlords will no longer be able to require fixed-term contracts. This means you won’t be automatically locked into paying rent for longer than you need a property for your studies. 

What this means for students
Pros 

• You’ll only pay rent for as long as you actually need the accommodation. No more automatic 12-month contracts that extend far past your course dates.
• You have more flexibility if your course dates, placements, or living situation change.

Cons 

• Some landlords may try to set their own preferred move-in and move-out dates to align with the academic year (see HMO rules below).
• It may take time for the student housing market to adjust to the new flexible model.

Landlords and agents cannot request, encourage, or accept rent offers above the advertised price. 

This is designed to stop competitive “bidding wars” in tight student rental markets. 

What this means for students

Pros

• You can’t be pressured to pay above the advertised rent 
• You cannot miss out on a property to a more affluent competitor 
• These rules are strictly enforced. Landlords can be fined up to £7000 for reported breaches

Cons

• High-demand areas may still be competitive. You may need to act quickly to secure a property
• Landlords may try to increase their asking prices to mitigate for inability to negotiate 

Rental rules have always been slightly different for Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs), and this will continue under the new Renters Rights Act. 

A HMO is a property shared by three or more people who aren’t part of the same family, so most shared student houses fall into this category. 

Under the new law, your landlord can ask you to move out at the end of the academic year, but only if all the following statements apply: 

• Everyone in the house was a full-time student when the tenancy began
• Your landlord told you about this rule in writing before you signed the contract
• They give you at least four months’ notice, and the tenancy ends between 1 June and 30 September

What this means for students

Pros

• You’ll know in advance if your tenancy is due to end at the end of the academic year. 
• Landlords can’t suddenly decide to evict you mid-year 

Cons

• You might have to move out by June even if your course, assessments, or placements continue into the summer
• The rule still applies even if one of your housemates drops out or changes to part-time study

The same regulations as those for HMOs will now apply to Purpose Built Student Accommodation (PBSAs). This means that students living in private halls will benefit from the same protections as those in other property types. These protections include;

• You cannot be asked to pay more than one months rent upfront 
• You can leave the tenancy with two months’ notice, giving you more flexibility if your plans or living situation change

What this means for students

Pros

• You now gain many of the same rights as private renters, including advance rent limits and flexible notice periods
• More freedom to move if your course, placement, or personal situation changes
• Greater protection and transparency from PBSA landlords

Cons

• PBSA providers may still have additional house rules or service charges that you need to follow
• Notice periods and move-out timing must still comply with your PBSA contract, so check your tenancy carefully
• Some halls may not yet have updated all policies to reflect these new rights - always confirm in writing

All rental homes must now meet the Decent Homes Standard, meaning properties must be safe, warm, and in good repair.

Under Awaab’s Law, landlords must fix serious health or safety hazards (like mould, unsafe wiring, or broken heating) within 7 days of being reported.

A new Housing Ombudsman will handle complaints when landlords ignore repair responsibilities.

What this means for students

Pros

• Landlords are legally responsible for keeping your home safe, warm, and habitable
• You have formal routes to escalate unresolved repairs, including the Housing Ombudsman
• Gives you protection if your accommodation has long-standing issues that affect your health or safety

Cons

• Minor or non-urgent repairs may not be covered under Awaab’s Law, so they could take longer to fix
• You must report problems in writing and keep records (emails, photos) to support any complaint
• PBSA providers or HMO landlords may have different reporting systems, so check your tenancy handbook or noticeboard

Your deposit must now be protected in a government-approved scheme within 30 days of payment.

New rules introduce:

• Faster return timelines: Landlords must return deposits more quickly after your tenancy ends (typically within 10 days if there’s no dispute).
• Dispute process: If there’s disagreement about deductions, you can use the deposit protection scheme’s free dispute resolution service, which acts as an independent adjudicator.
• Penalties for non-compliance: Landlords who don’t protect deposits properly face fines, and you may be able to claim compensation.

The new law doesn’t cap deposit amounts, but it strengthens enforcement of existing protections.

What this means for students

Pros

• Your deposit is safer and will be returned more quickly
• Clear dispute resolution ensures fairness if deductions are contested

Cons

• You’ll still need to keep receipts and evidence of the property condition to avoid disputes.

Landlords can no longer evict you without a valid reason.

Currently, Section 21 allows landlords to end tenancies after a fixed term with just 2 months’ notice.

Under the new rules, evictions must now have a clear legal reason.

Valid grounds for eviction include:

• Non-payment of rent (at least 2 months’ arrears)
• Antisocial behaviour or criminal activity
• Landlord wants to sell the property
• Landlord or close family member wants to move in
• Repeated breach of tenancy terms
• Property being redeveloped

Purpose-built student accommodation may still have rules to align with the academic cycle, but regular houses/flats rented to students now require valid grounds for eviction.

What this means for students

Pros

• You have stronger protection against sudden eviction
• Greater security, even if your tenancy isn’t fixed-term

Cons

• Landlords still have legitimate reasons to evict; always check your tenancy and notice letters carefully

The new law strengthens rules against unfair discrimination.

Landlords cannot:

• Use blanket bans like “no students,” “no people on benefits,” or “no international tenants.”
• Refuse tenants based on disability. Landlords must make reasonable adjustments
• Refuse tenants based solely on nationality or immigration status (as long as you have the right to rent)

Enforcement is also being strengthened, and you can report breaches to local councils.

What this means for students

Pros

• Protects students from being refused accommodation based on who they are
• Especially important for international students in competitive markets like London

Cons

• You may need to assert your rights if you experience discrimination

You can now ask your landlord for permission to have a pet in your home. 

Your landlord must consider your request fairly and can only refuse for a good reason. For example, if the property’s lease or building rules ban pets, or if keeping one would cause safety or hygiene issues.  

Landlords can ask you to take out pet damage insurance to cover potential costs. 

You must make the request in writing, and the landlord must respond within 28 working days.

What this means for students

Pros

• Blanket “no pets” rules are no longer allowed. Landlords must look at your individual request 
• Emotional support or therapy animals may now be easier to request formally, especially with supporting documentation

Cons

• Shared student houses (HMOs) and student halls will likely still have restrictions as pets can affect other residents
• Although all renters have the right to request a pet, landlords can still refuse if there’s a valid reason (e.g. damage risk, building lease terms)
• You may need to pay extra for pet insurance or agree to stricter cleaning conditions

Landlords must provide a written statement at the start of every tenancy. This is mandatory, and it should include:

• Rent amount and due dates
• Deposit details and protection scheme
• Repair and maintenance responsibilities
• Notice periods, conditions, and key tenancy rules

If your landlord fails to provide this statement, it is a breach of your rights, and you can seek advice from Arts SU or the Housing Ombudsman.

What this means for students

Pros

• You get a clear, easy-to-understand summary of your tenancy, rights, and obligations
• Disputes or misunderstandings are easier to resolve because everything is documented
• Provides a reference point if you need to challenge unfair practices

Cons

• Some landlords may include technical wording or unfair clauses - don’t sign if you’re unsure!

The Arts SU Advice team can review your contract before you sign. You can find our contact details at the bottom fo this page.