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What is a tenancy agreement?

A tenancy agreement is the contract between you and your landlord. Most tenancy agreements provided by landlords for student properties are Periodic Tenancy Agreements. Tenants can stay in their home until they decide to end the tenancy by giving two months’ notice to the landlord. 

Please note that the Renters’ Rights Act removed fixed-term assured tenancies from 1 May 2026. For more information, see our webpage. 

Make sure you read and understand the terms of the tenancy agreement before you sign it.  

What type of tenancy do I have?

Different types of tenancy are available, such as a joint tenancy, shorthold and licence agreements. 

If you’re intending to live in a shared house, it’s likely that you’ll be asked to sign a “Joint and Several Tenancy Agreement" with your other housemates. This means that you could be pursued altogether or separately for any liabilities. 

Please note that under the Renters’ Rights Act (from 1 May 2026), if you live in a shared house one person can give notice to end the tenancy for everyone. This means all tenants may need to leave even if others did not agree so always talk to your housemates first before giving notice. For more information, see our webpage.  

Further information on the different types of tenancy can be found on the website.

Key information on your tenancy agreement

You should ensure that you fully understand what you’re responsible for under the Tenancy Agreement. Always ask for your agreement to be in writing as verbal agreements can be hard to enforce. Ensure that the agreement clearly states the rent, dates to make payments and the way to end your agreement.

Can I leave my tenancy agreement early?

Thanks to the Renter’s Right Act, there are no fixed-term tenancies anymore so you can give notice 2 months in advance to leave when you want to. You must give at least 2 months’ notice to the landlord but please be mindful that if you share a house as part of a Joint tenancy, giving notice will mean everyone is expected to leave the property. Talk to all your fellow tenants before giving notice to ensure everyone is on the same page. 

Returning the keys to the landlord when you leave doesn’t end your responsibilities. You're still responsible for rent and any charges until the tenancy officially ends. 

After you're no longer on the lease, make sure you tell the utility companies and local government – you don’t want to be liable for bills after you have left.

Changing a tenancy agreement

You can request that your landlord puts additional wording into a tenancy agreement. If your landlord wants to change the property before you move in, get it in writing. Do this before the agreement begins. If your landlord doesn't complete the work, you'll be in a much stronger position to take further action.

What to do if you need help

If you’re in any doubt about your rights or responsibilities under a tenancy agreement, please contact us. If we can’t answer your question, we’ll advise on where you can get support. We can advise you on where to go for legal help if you need it. 

and both have support staff available that you can call or chat to online for help with legal advice and general housing issues. 

Your tenancy agreement should set out the rights and responsibilities in respect of repairs and maintenance at the property.

If you find a repair that needs doing, report it to your landlord or agent (whoever is managing the property). Review your tenancy agreement to ensure that it is their responsibility to fix. If it is, they’ll generally arrange the work and inform you of timescales.

Legally, a landlord has the right to enter the property to inspect it or carry out repairs. They must give you 24 hours’ notice, unless they need immediate access to deal with an emergency.

As a tenant, you’re expected to use the property in a 'tenant like manner' which means:

• Keeping the house clean and in the condition in which you found it
• Reporting required repairs promptly
• Rectifying any issues caused by you.

You can find a guide to repairs on the and websites.

What happens if the landlord doesn’t fix the issue?

Don't stop paying rent because of a repair unless a legal representative tells you to do so. Doing so could put you at risk of eviction from the property. 

Log all repairs and communication with the landlord or agency, in case you need to settle any disputes later. If your landlord refuses to complete repairs or fix conditions in your home within a reasonable time period, then .

Mould and damp

Damp can be caused by structural or maintenance issues, but the most common cause is condensation. Condensation builds up very easily – just sleeping in a room produces a lot of moisture. Key things that add to moisture build-up are:

• Drying clothes in the property
• Not ventilating enough after cooking and showering
• Not opening bedroom windows
• Not putting the heating on.

Make sure you ventilate your property to allow the moisture to escape. Switch on the heating to get some warmth into the building. If you don't undertake these steps in the right balance, mould can grow, and you’ll see a build-up of water on surfaces. B&NES council offer advice on .

Update your landlord on any issues. Ask for their advice and get them to check that there isn’t an issue with the property itself. If your landlord refuses to complete repairs or fix conditions in your home within a reasonable time period, then you can .