Posted 14 hours ago
Tue 17 Mar, 2026 10:03 AM
You might have heard of the new Renters' Rights Act and be wondering what this means for you? We've rounded up everything you need to know ahead of the new laws coming into effect on 1st May 2026.
🔑 What is the new Renter's Rights Act?
The Renters' Rights Act refers to new major rental changes that will give tenants, including student tenants, stronger housing rights.
💬 What does this mean if you’re currently living in University of Liverpool Halls?
If you're currently a resident in University Halls (Crown Place, Greenbank Student Village, Vine Court, Melville Grove, Tudor Close, Dover and Philharmonic Court), your current tenancy will not be affected by the new Renter's Rights Act. This is because the agreement for residents in University Halls is different from the one affected by the new laws. If you choose to live in University Halls again in 2026/27, the new laws will not affect your tenancy.
However, the new Renters’ Right Act will affect anyone who’ll be living in privately rented accommodation from 1st May onwards. So if you plan to rent a private student house, flat or live in private Halls in 2026/27, keep reading…
🏠What changes will come about in the new Renters' Right Act?
Even if these changes do not affect you just yet, it's good to know what the new laws will mean for you when it comes to moving out of Halls and into your next home.
From 1st May 2026, any student tenant living in a privately rented house, flat or private Hall should know that:
- The type of tenancy agreement that accommodation providers or landlords must give is changing
- Fixed term tenancies will change to a rolling tenancy, known as an Assured Periodic Tenancy. To end a new rolling periodic tenancy and move out, residents must give two full months’ notice in writing to the accommodation provider. Old fixed-term contracts won’t end automatically anymore
đź«– Tea & Chat with Liverpool Student Homes
Liverpool Student Homes (LSH) is the University's support service for finding accredited student accommodation in the private sector and you can check out their dedicated Renters' Rights Act page for the latest updates.
Come and chat to the team at Tea & Chat with Liverpool Student Homes on Wednesday 15th April at 6pm in Vine Court Mezz.
Grab a hot drink, cake and ask your housing questions. Whether you want to know more about the Renters’ Right Act or if you’re searching for your next student home, looking for housemates to live with or would like some general housing advice, LSH will be happy to chat and answer your questions.
⚖️ What the new laws mean
The new rules will also better protect tenants when it comes to things like requesting advance rent payments and rent increases. Click the drop downs to see what the new laws mean:
One of the biggest changes is the end of Section 21 “no-fault” evictions. Previously, a landlord could ask tenants to leave a property without giving a specific reason. Under the new law, landlords will only be able to evict you using legally defined grounds e.g. serious rent arrears, antisocial behaviour or if the landlord plans to sell the property or move into it themselves.
The change is designed to give renters more stability and prevent sudden evictions.
The new rules will also place limits on how often your rent can increase. In most cases, your landlord will only be allowed to raise rent once per year. If you believe a rent increase is unfair or excessive, you will also have the right to challenge it through a tribunal.
Landlords of shared houses and of private halls which are not part of the National Code will no longer be able to ask you for more than one month’s rent in advance when you agree your tenancy.
Landlords may ask you for a UK based guarantor. If you’re unable to provide a UK guarantor and want to rent accommodation that requires one, we’ve partnered with Housing Hand to help you provide a qualifying UK Guarantor when renting in the private sector and for purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA). Find out more here.
More information and where to get advice
For anyone who is currently living in a privately rented house, flat or Hall with a fixed-term tenancy, you can click here to find out about how the new laws will affect your tenancy agreement.
Unipol, who operate the National Code for student housing, also have a Student Guide to the Renters' Right Act, which you may find useful. Full details from the UK Government about the Renter’s Rights Act can be found here.
You can also get advice from the Guild and from Liverpool Student Homes.
