Faculty of Social Sciences news

The University of Sussex Housing Law Clinic hosted our first Student Housing Advice Event in February 2026, dedicated to supporting students at the University of Sussex. The event focused on private rented accommodation and the implications of the Renters’ Rights Act 2025, legislation that will significantly reshape the student rental sector from May 2026.

The event marked an important milestone for the Housing Law Clinic. The Clinic team is made up of law students on the Clinical Legal Education module alongside supervisors Dr Chloe Anthony and Daniel Dickson from Dean Wilson LLP. For the event, we collaborated with the University and Students’ Union housing advice teams. It provided not only an opportunity to deliver practical housing advice, but also a space to reflect on the relationship between legislative reform and students’ lived experiences in the private rented sector.

Our Aims: Informing and Supporting Students

Our Student Housing Advice Event was designed around two key objectives.

First, we aimed to improve students’ understanding of how the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 will affect student housing, particularly for those renting in the private sector.

Secondly, we sought to provide accessible, one-to-one housing advice to students experiencing practical issues in their tenancies.

With major reforms to student tenancies due to come into force on 1 May 2026, ensuring that students are informed and supported is essential. The event therefore offered both pre-booked appointments and a drop-in service for those seeking guidance on their housing concerns.

The Importance of Understanding the Renters’ Rights Act 2025

The Renters’ Rights Act 2025 introduces many reforms to the private rented sector, including the abolition of no-fault evictions and the replacement of fixed-term tenancies with Assured Periodic Tenancies. While these changes are intended to strengthen tenant protections, their practical implications for students are not always immediately clear.

During our event, we found that many students were either unaware of the forthcoming reforms or uncertain about how the changes would affect their own housing situations. This lack of awareness risks leaving students vulnerable to misunderstandings about their rights, particularly in relation to eviction, rent increases, upfront rent payments, and the process for ending a tenancy.

Where Students Can Turn for Support

A recurring theme throughout the event was uncertainty about where students can obtain reliable and up-to-date housing advice. Legislative reform can feel abstract in practice and from a student perspective, clear and practical guidance tailored to individual housing circumstances is essential, particularly when urgent issues arise.

For students at the University of Sussex, dedicated support is available through University Housing Services and the Students’ Union Advice Service. These teams provide guidance on tenancy agreements, rent issues, landlord disputes, and other housing concerns.

Additional support is available through Unipol, the student housing charity, which has compiled practical guides explaining the changes introduced by the Renters’ Rights Act. Students can also access online guidance and helpline support through the housing charity, Shelter England, and Citizens Advice, both of which provide online information and access to local advice centres.

Why Student Housing Matters

The introduction of the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 represents one of the most significant reforms to the private rented sector in a generation. However, legal reform alone does not guarantee meaningful protection.

Our event demonstrated the importance of creating accessible spaces where students can engage with housing law in a practical and supportive environment. For many attendees, the opportunity to receive clear, one-to-one advice helped translate complex legal reforms into information directly relevant to their experiences as renters.

Beyond addressing individual concerns, the event highlighted the broader need for proactive education around student housing rights, particularly as the Act moves towards implementation. Legal reform alone is insufficient if students are unaware of their rights or lack confidence in asserting them.

The true impact of the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 will therefore depend not only on the strength of its provisions, but also on students’ ability to understand and make use of those protections in practice. In doing so, the Housing Law Clinic aims to contribute to greater legal awareness and equip students with the knowledge needed to navigate the evolving landscape of private renting with confidence.

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