Yes, providing you do not live in a PBSA building or university halls, you can provide two months’ notice at any point after 1st May 2026, regardless of your previous tenancy agreement.
This will depend on the type of accommodation you are living in.
PBSA and University Halls
In PBSA (Purpose Built Student Accommodation) or university halls, fixed term tenancies will remain so you can only leave early by mutual consent, please speak to your accommodation provider for more information.
HMO
In an HMO (House of Multiple Occupancy), you should have been served with a Ground 4A notice by your landlord at the start of your tenancy. This gives the landlords the ability to regain possession of the property between 1st June and 30th September, allowing them to prepare for the next academic year. However, as a tenant, you will still be able to provide two months’ notice and leave at any point.
If your landlord has not provided you with a Ground 4a notice and you haven’t provided your two months’ notice, you should reach out to them as soon as possible to reach an agreement.
Other private rental
You can provide two months’ notice to leave your accommodation at any time.
Before 1st May, when the Renters’ Rights Act comes into force then this is governed by your current rental agreement. After that time, it will depend on the type of accommodation you are living in.
PBSA & University Halls
In PBSA (Purpose Built Student Accommodation) and university halls, fixed term tenancies will remain so you can only leave early by mutual consent, please speak to your accommodation provider for more information.
HMO
In an HMO (House of Multiple Occupancy), you should have been served with a Ground 4A notice by your landlord at the start of your tenancy. This gives the landlords the ability to regain possession of the property between 1st June and 30th September, allowing them to prepare for the next academic year. However, as a tenant, you will still be able to provide two months’ notice and leave at any point.
If your landlord has not provided you with a Ground 4a notice and you haven’t provided your two months’ notice, you should reach out to them as soon as possible to reach an agreement.
Other private rental
You can provide two months’ notice to leave your accommodation at any time.
If you are living in Purpose Built Student Accommodation, you can leave at the end of the fixed term, unless otherwise agreed with your accommodation provider.
For all other tenancy types, you can provide two months notice to leave from 1st May 2026 onwards.
This will depend on the date of the sale, and we would recommend you get specific advice. If the date of sale is after the 1st May 2026, the old landlord has the right to terminate the agreement, and a new agreement would be required by the new landlord.
If the sale is before the 1st May, the obligations would normally move from your old landlord (the seller) to the buyer. However, it is best to confirm this with your new landlord.
For those that live in PBSA, there shouldn’t be any change in contract as it is exempt from much of the Renters’ Rights Act.
For other tenancy types, there is no obligation to sign a new rental contract, but it is advisable to clarify this with your landlord ahead of time.
Ground 4A notice may be served to students living in an HMO. It provides the landlord with the right to stop the tenancy and regain possession between 1st June and 30th September afterthe academic year is complete.
Notice must be served by the landlord before the tenancy starts.
A fixed term tenancy is a tenancy agreement for a specific duration, for example 6 or 12 months. Periodic tenancies don’t have any time limit and continue rolling from month to month.
Under the Renters’ Rights Act fixed term tenancies are no longer allowed. Landlords can therefore not determine a contract duration.
For new periodic tenancies the term is controlled by the tenant where they can give twomonths’ notice at any time.
If you live in a PBSA building, yes this is still possible. For any other tenancy agreement this will be illegal.
Once a tenancy has started, you can voluntarily opt to pay rent in advance, however this cannot be something you have to do before you move in.
PBSA are exempt from the majority of the Renter’s Rights Act, so it only applies to private rentals.
If you live in a PBSA and it is appropriately licensed, your rental home is likely exempt. Speak to your landlord or accommodation provider for more information.
Only those who live in PBSA are exempt, and they can therefore still demand rent up front.
For all other tenancy types, landlords are not allowed to request this.
Elements of the Renters’ Rights Act comes into force on 1st May 2026, such as:
From late 2026, the rollout for the landlord’s database will commence, and introduction of the landlord Ombudsman. Further dates are to be announced for the Decent Homes Standard.
If you live in PBSA, this will not impact your current tenancy. However, if you live in an HMO or private rental property this may impact your tenancy. You will be able to provide two months’ notice from 1st May.
When staying in PBSA, you will be in a fixed term tenancy and this will need to be mutually agreed with your accommodation provider. For any other tenancy, two months’ notice to leave can be provided at any point after 1st May 2026.
For all tenancies, other than PBSA, increases must be propsed no more than once a year by serving a Section 13 notice at least two months ahead of any proposed increases.
The new rent must be in line with local market rent, and can be challenged by the tenant through a Tribunal process for a fee.
After serving a section 13 notice, the landlord may still agree a lower rent in writing.
Under the Renters’ Rights Act, Section 21 (a no-fault eviction) is no longer possible.
Landlords must provide a reason for the eviction, along with the relevant notice period. You can find types of eviction grounds here. All others are illegal and can be appealed through Tribunal or Courts.
A property should be suitably maintained and fit for habitation with new rules on the Decent Homes Standards coming into force in 2026/7.
Yes, landlords can still request that you have a rent guarantor. This could be a family member or professional guarantor service like Housing Hand.
Please visit the Government website here.
As now through citizens advice centres, online research and support and legal.
Yes, you can. However, this is most likely to be in a rolling tenancy in private accommodation where Ground 4A cannot be served.
Outside of PBSA and university halls (exempt from RRA) then see attached (appendix B)
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