When do student tenancies end?
Guide for students renting from a private landlord or letting agent.
Choosing to end your tenancy
From 1 May 2026, most student renters have assured tenancies. This means:
you have a rolling contract with no set end date
you need to give notice if you want to leave
you can give notice at any time of year
Student house shares are often joint tenancies. You are joint tenants 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.
Discuss your plans with each other before you speak to the landlord.
This is important if some of you want to leave and some want to stay.
Planning to leave in the summer
Many students choose to move out in the summer.
Landlords often expect students to leave in summer. This is so they can rent the property to a new group for the next academic year.
You should still give notice even if everyone expects the tenancy to end.
If no one gives a valid notice, your tenancy might not end.
You could still be responsible for rent unless you all agree a tenancy end date with your landlord and move out.
What if anyone wants to leave before summer?
You do not have to wait until the summer. You can give notice at any time of year.
Any joint tenant can give notice to end the tenancy if you want to leave.
You usually have to give 2 months' notice.
Your landlord can agree to a shorter notice period in writing if you all want to leave.
More on:
Talk to your housemates before anyone gives notice.
A valid notice from one joint tenant ends the tenancy for everyone.
Make sure you will all be ready to leave by the time the notice ends.
What if any joint tenants want to stay?
Anyone who wants to stay after the notice ends must agree a new tenancy with the landlord.
You could start by looking for other people to move in.
The tenants who want to stay can then ask for a new agreement with replacement tenants. This is sometimes called a tenancy takeover.
Be aware that your landlord:
might not agree to a new tenancy
might agree but want to put the rent up
can ask any new tenants to have a guarantor
could charge up to £50 to change the names on the old agreement
More on moving in or out of a joint tenancy.
If you signed your contract before 1 May 2026
Private renting laws changed for most tenants on 1 May 2026.
An older tenancy agreement might not explain your rights properly.
For example, it might say:
it is an 'assured shorthold tenancy'
the tenancy is ends on a set date
More on agreements signed before the law changed.
If you got an eviction notice before 1 May 2026
Your landlord had to apply to court for an eviction order before 1 August 2026.
If they did this, you can stay in your home until a court orders you to leave.
If your landlord missed this deadline, they cannot evict you with the notice. You now have an assured tenancy. Your landlord can only give you a new notice for a legal reason.
Ask for homeless help from the council or a student advice centre if you're being evicted.
Last updated: 28 September 2026
