The Renters’ Rights Act, effective 1 May 2026, brings the biggest rental changes in 40 years. It bans no-fault evictions, limits rent hikes to yearly, caps upfront rent, and bans bidding wars and discrimination against tenants on benefits or with children.

For students, the Act is particularly significant as fixed-term tenancies have been abolished, giving renters the flexibility to end any tenancy with two months’ notice and stopping the pressure to sign next year’s contract before the current one has ended.

Landlords who break the new rules face fines of up to £40,000, and councils have been given new powers and funding to investigate and clamp down on rogue landlords.

Seyi Obakin, Chief Executive of youth homelessness charity Centrepoint, said the Act “will prevent thousands of young people pushed into homelessness every year because of no-fault evictions”, adding that the increased protections mean young people are “better able to rely on the security of their tenancies and enjoy and benefit from the stability that brings.”