England · Private rented sector
Landlord templates — Cambridge
Tenancy agreements, notices, and compliance documents for Cambridge landlords. All documents updated for the Renters' Rights Act 2025, effective 1 May 2026.
Private rented households
~25,000
Average monthly rent (1-bed)
~£1,400
Student population
~25,000
Cambridge rental market — what landlords need to know
Cambridge has the highest rental prices outside London in England, driven by two world-renowned universities and a booming tech and biotech employment base. The private rented sector is highly competitive with very low vacancy rates.
Licensing requirements in Cambridge
Cambridge City Council operates an additional HMO licensing scheme covering smaller HMOs with 3 or more occupants. Check before letting any shared property in the city.
Essential documents for Cambridge landlords
View all →Periodic Assured Tenancy Agreement
The new default English tenancy from 1 May 2026. Periodic from day one, with the prescribed written statement of terms built in.
Section 8 Notice Pack (All Grounds)
Every mandatory and discretionary ground on the new 2026 list, pre-labelled with the notice period, arrears threshold, and evidence block.
Landlord Annual Compliance Checklist
Annual walk-through of every compliance touchpoint: gas, electrical, EPC, smoke/CO, Right-to-Rent, deposit, licensing, database registration.
Renters' Rights Act Transition Pack
For landlords who need to migrate existing ASTs onto the new regime. The single most-searched landlord product of 2026.
What changes for Cambridge landlords on 1 May 2026
- → Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions permanently abolished — use Section 8
- → All new tenancies must use Periodic Assured Tenancy Agreements — no more ASTs
- → Rent increases via Section 13 only — contractual review clauses unenforceable
- → Pet requests must be considered — blanket ‘no pets’ policies are unlawful
- → Private landlord database registration coming — date TBC
Cambridge landlord FAQs
Do Cambridge shared houses need a licence?
Cambridge City Council operates additional HMO licensing for properties with 3 or more occupants from 2 or more households. This catches many student houses that fall below the mandatory licensing threshold. Check the Cambridge City Council licensing register before letting.
Does the Renters' Rights Act apply to Cambridge student lets?
Yes. Cambridge is in England and all Renters' Rights Act 2025 provisions apply from 1 May 2026. New student tenancies from September 2026 must be Periodic Assured Tenancy Agreements — the fixed-term AST model is no longer available. Ground 4A (student HMO ground) allows landlords to recover possession between 1 June and 30 September where the property is an HMO let to full-time students.