Skip to main content
Housing Hub
Housing Hub banner with an image of students chatting in front of two house doors

This section of our Housing Hub aims to support your understanding of new legislation affecting the student housing market – the Renters' Rights Act.

We have produced a series of FAQs for students, drawing from independent, third-party information provided by the UK Government and its Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG), and national independent bodies representing both student renters and landlords.

Published 3pm, Monday 16 February 2026

What is the Renters' Rights Act?

The Renters' Rights Act is new legislation. It will fundamentally change the student renting experience.

The Act gained "Royal Assent" (was made law) on Monday 27 October 2025. However, most of the Act will not come into force until what is known as the "Commencement Date". This is Friday 1 May 2026. Some parts of the Act will not come into force for several years.

Full details of the implementation timeline can be found here: Renters' Rights Act 2025: Implementation roadmap - GOV.UK

How will it affect me?

The Renters' Rights Act will affect you differently depending on where you choose to live and who you rent your student accommodation from.

University-owned accommodation

  • Accommodation provided through Durham University is not impacted by the Renters' Rights Act.

Purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA)

  • Accommodation provided at one of the 14 private, purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) sites in Durham City will go through a short transitional phase between Friday 1 May 2026 and summer 2026 (when new tenancies begin).
  • The accommodation provider at each of these sites will communicate with you as to how the Renters' Rights Act will impact you but you can also read more about this here: Students in Private Sector Purpose-built Accommodation (UNIPOL)

Private rentals (through a landlord or lettings agent)

  • If you rent in the private rented sector, whether directly from a landlord or through a letting agent, the Act will affect you the most.
  • It will affect you differently depending on if you rent a one or two-bed house/flat or if you rent a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO).

What are the main changes that affect students?

The student housing charity, UNIPOL, has produced some student-focussed guidance on the Renters' Rights Act. You can read this here: Summary of Changes - Renters' Rights Act 2025

If you have an existing tenancy (you have signed a tenancy agreement already and have either started the tenancy or will start the tenancy soon) your landlord will have until Sunday 31 May 2026 to provide you with an ‘Information Sheet’. This will explain how the Act affects your tenancy.

This key document is mandatory – your landlord has to provide you with it. They may do this in writing or by email. We expect the Government to publish the Information Sheet at some point in March 2026 so look out for it from then.

How can I find out more?

The main source of information as the Act progresses from Royal Assent to, and beyond, the Commencement Date is: Guide to the Renters’ Rights Act - GOV.UK

If you have an existing tenancy (whether it has started or is due to start) you can ask questions to your landlord and/or letting agent if your landlord uses one.

Prior to Friday 1 May 2026 there may be some questions your landlord cannot yet answer, or may only be able to answer in part. This is because some pieces of ‘secondary legislation’ are still being drafted.

After Friday 1 May 2026 you should expect a clear and comprehensive answer to any question you ask in relation to the Renters' Rights Act.

Durham Students' Union is supporting all Durham students to know their rights and has produced a guide to the Renters' Rights Act. Their guide provides dedicated sections on PBSA, HMOs and one or two-bed houses/flats. The latest version can be found here:

Renters’ Rights Act 2025 – What Durham Students Need to Know @ Durham SU.

From the end of January 2026, you will see key information on the digital screens around campus. We will also communicate with you through Student News, our weekly newsletter for students.

All information will be signposted to via our Housing Hub.

What if I need advice?

Students, and/or their parents and supporters, may look to the following sources for independent, third-party information, advice and guidance on the Act: