Do you have to leave a student tenancy in the summer?
The law is changing
It might be harder for your landlord to make you leave.
Renters' Rights Act changes start from 1 May 2026.
For now, your rights stay the same.
Check your student tenancy
This advice is for full time students renting from a private landlord or letting agent.
You have different rights in student halls of residence.
Many students choose to move out in the summer.
Your rights might change on 1 May 2026 because of the Renters' Rights Act.
Whether you want to stay or go, it's important to plan ahead.
Understand your tenancy agreement
A tenancy agreement is the contract you signed with your landlord to rent your home.
It is probably an assured shorthold tenancy (AST).
Most private renters have this type of tenancy.
Your agreement should also say if it is a:
joint tenancy
fixed term tenancy
What is a joint tenancy?
Many student house shares are joint tenancies even if you only pay rent for your room. It's a joint tenancy if you are all named on the same agreement.
In a joint tenancy, the choices or actions of people you share with can affect your rights.
What is a fixed term tenancy?
A fixed term tenancy means your contract probably has an end date in the summer.
Checking the end date on your contract helps you understand when your landlord expects you to leave by. For example, many student tenancies run from July to the end of June.
The Renters' Rights Act could change your fixed term AST into an assured periodic tenancy on 1 May 2026.
Your tenancy might not change if you get an eviction notice before that date.
What if you all want to leave?
Contact your landlord or letting agent in May if you all plan to leave.
You might have to give 2 months' notice if your tenancy is periodic.
But your landlord might agree to end the tenancy earlier. They will probably be happy with this if they have new tenants ready to move in.
More on how to get your deposit back.
What if any joint tenants decide to stay?
Your tenancy ends if you serve a valid notice. Any tenants who want to stay need to agree a new tenancy with the landlord.
In other situations, your joint tenancy continues if any of the tenants still live there. For example, if you agree a tenancy end date with the landlord but not all tenants leave by that day.
This could mean you're still responsible for rent even if you move out.
Talk to your housemates about this situation before it happens.
If some of you want to stay and some want to leave, those who want to stay could look for other people to move in. You can then ask the landlord if you can sign a new tenancy agreement.
More on how to end a joint tenancy.
What if new tenants are ready to move in?
Your landlord might have signed an agreement with new tenants if they expect you to move.
For example, another group of students might have a tenancy agreement to start in July.
This could be a difficult situation for the landlord and the group expecting to move in.
The tenancy rights of people who live there are stronger than those who have not yet moved in.
You cannot be forced to leave without a court order. This would be an illegal eviction.
Your landlord might be able to get an eviction order from a court. But they must give you a legal notice first.
Last updated: 17 February 2026
