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.
Most private renters have an assured shorthold tenancy (AST).
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. You have a joint tenancy if you all signed the same agreement, even if you only pay rent for your room.
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 has changed to an assured periodic tenancy.
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.
Find out how to get your deposit back.
What if any joint tenants decide to stay?
Talk to your housemates about their plans.
Your tenancy ends if any of the tenants give your landlord a valid 'notice to quit'. The tenancy ends for everyone. Anyone who wants to stay needs to agree a new tenancy with the landlord.
If some of you want to stay and some want to leave, you could look for other people to move in. The tenants who want to stay could then ask the landlord if they can sign a new tenancy agreement.
If no one gives a valid notice or signs a new agreement, your tenancy might not end. For example, if you agree a move out date with your landlord but do not all leave by that day.
This could mean you're still responsible for rent even if you move out.
More on moving out of 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.
Your landlord might be able to get an eviction order from a court. But they must give you a legal notice first.
You cannot be forced to leave without a court order. This is an illegal eviction.
Last updated: 17 February 2026
