The Renters’ Rights Bill is expected to get final approval (Royal Assent) by late 2025, with its implementation likely to take place in early 2026 and government sources indicate the new rules could come into force within a few months of it becoming law.
If you’re currently in a fixed-term student tenancy that’s set to end June 2026, and the law kicks in during February 2026, your contract would convert to a rolling tenancy in February.
Pros:
Greater security
You won’t face an abrupt “pack up and leave” notice for no reason, no-fault evictions are off the table. This means peace of mind, especially during critical study periods or exams. If you stick to your tenancy terms, you can stay as long as you need to.
Flexibility to leave
Life as a student can be unpredictable. With rolling tenancies, if your situation changes (placement, dropping out, issues with the house), you have an escape hatch. Give two months’ notice and you can move on, rather than being stuck paying rent until July.
More power over rent
Rent can only go up once a year, and even then, you get a say. This helps you budget and avoids nasty surprises mid-tenancy. Plus, no bidding wars means the advertised rent is what you’ll pay, a fairer system for those without deep pockets.
Better living conditions
Minimum standards for rentals and strict rules on repairs (like mould remediation) mean student landlords must keep the property in shape. Hopefully fewer cold, damp student houses and faster fixes when problems arise.
Pets and lifestyle
If you’ve always wanted a cat or dog in uni, it’ll be easier to negotiate that. Landlords can’t just say “no pets” across the board, they’ll need a good reason to refuse. Also, the ban on benefit discrimination is just fundamentally fair and could help some students access housing they otherwise couldn’t.
No big upfront costs
Most of us don’t have thousands of pounds lying around. The cap on upfront rent means you won’t be asked for 6-12 months of rent in advance anymore. You’ll typically just need the first month’s rent and deposit to move in, which is much more manageable.
Cons:
Housing availability uncertainty
There’s concern the new system might shrink the private student housing supply. If landlords feel they can’t control when tenants leave, some might stop renting to students or might sell up. Others might face graduates staying on longer, meaning fewer new places open for freshers each year. This could make finding a student house more competitive, and potentially drive up rents due to demand.
Mid-year tenancy chaos
With no fixed end date, your group tenancy could end unexpectedly if someone gives notice or if the landlord needs to use a possession ground. So, you’ll need to communicate more with housemates about plans.
The end-of-year moving routine might become less standard, some students could move out at odd times, which might be disruptive especially if you plan to live with the same group until June but one person bows out in March.
Stricter landlords
Freedoms for tenants might mean landlords become pickier upfront. International students and those without family support might need to secure guarantor services or insurance to be competitive, as landlords can no longer ask for a bunch of rent upfront as assurance.
Adjustment to new norms
Little things like paying monthly instead of termly, or the possibility of having to renew a tenancy mid-tenancy if someone leaves, will require students to adapt. There could be a learning curve as everyone (landlords and tenants alike) gets used to the new rules. Expect a period of confusion while the changes roll out, even professionals are anticipating a “confusing time” during the transition.
Court backlogs
This one’s more of a general worry, with Section 21 gone, all evictions must go through a potentially slow court process. If a student tenant is facing eviction for whatever reason, it might take longer to resolve.
Conversely, if you have a nightmare flatmate you wish the landlord could evict quickly, that won’t be so easy without no-fault evictions. The system might be a bit clogged initially. However, this is more of a behind-the-scenes issue; as a tenant, just knowing things might take time.
