New rules for private renting in England started on 1 May 2026. What they mean for you depends on where you live.

Your tenancy is now rolling, so there's no fixed end date. This means:

• Your landlord can't end it without a legal reason.
• You can leave by giving two months' written notice. You can give notice once your tenancy has started, and it must end on the last day of a rent period (the day before your rent is due).
• Rent can only go up once a year, and you can challenge an increase.
• You can't be asked for rent before you sign your contract. After signing, and before you move in, you can't be asked for more than one month's rent in advance.
• You can ask to keep a pet, and your landlord can't unreasonably say no.

If you live in a shared student house (an HMO) and everyone on the tenancy is a full-time student, your landlord may be able to end the tenancy so the house can be let to the next group of students. They can only do this if all of these apply:

• They told you in writing, before you signed, that they might use this right.
• Your contract was not signed more than 6 months before you could move in.
• They give you at least four months' notice (a Section 8 notice).
• The date you must leave is between 1 June and 30 September.

If you don't leave, the landlord still has to go to court. This right doesn't apply to ordinary one- or two-bedroom flats that aren't HMOs. If you're not sure whether your home counts as an HMO, ask us.

If you get a notice, don't ignore it. Contact the NTSU Advice Service for support.

University halls aren't covered by the new rules. You'll usually have a licence agreement, and your rights come from that contract.

Private halls are often exempt too, if the provider follows an approved code such as the ANUK/Unipol Code or the UUK/GuildHE Code. Ask your provider which code they follow. If they don't follow one, the new rules probably apply to you.

Exempt providers may still use fixed-term contracts and have different rules on ending the contract.

Joint: This is a single tenancy granted to, and signed by, a group of people. The whole of the house or flat is tenanted and the tenants, together, have the exclusive right to occupy all of the premises. The liability for observing the terms of the housing contract and paying rent is "joint and several", meaning everyone in the house is responsible. If one joint tenant gives notice, it can end the tenancy for everyone, so talk to your housemates first.

Individual: You're only responsible for your own room. Each tenant has a separate agreement they alone have signed, with the exclusive right to occupy their room, and the shared right of access to the common areas, for example the bathroom and kitchen. Each tenant is individually responsible for paying the rent for their room. The landlord has the right of access to the common areas without your consent, and the right to bring in tenants to replace tenants who move out.

If you rent a room in your landlord's home and share a kitchen, bathroom or living space with them, you're a lodger. The new rules mostly don't apply, so you have fewer protections, but you still have rights:

• Your landlord must give you reasonable notice to leave. This is often the length of your rent period, such as four weeks.
• They can't lock you out, harass you or force you to leave. That's a crime.
• Your home must be safe, with working gas, electricity and fire safety.
• Keep a written record of what you agreed about rent, bills and house rules.
• If your situation changes, for example your landlord moves out, your rights might change too. Get in touch.

Your contract can't take away rights the law gives you. If a rule in your contract is unfair or against the law, you don't have to follow it.

Things your landlord can't do:

• Ask for more than five weeks' rent as a deposit
• Charge admin, reference or check-in fees
• Ask for rent before you sign, or for more than one month's rent in advance after signing
• Refuse to rent to you because you have children or receive benefits
• Put up the rent more than once a year, or without following the proper process
• Charge unfair penalties or stop you reporting problems to the council

Before you sign:

• Read the whole contract, including the small print.
• Look for unusual fees or rules that seem unfair.
• Ask your landlord to explain or change anything you're not sure about. Get changes in writing.
• Bring it to us before you sign. We'll check it for free.

Already signed? Don't panic. An unfair term might not count even if you agreed to it.

This page gives general information, not legal advice. Your rights depend on your contract and type of accommodation.