Sections 60A and B of the Residential Tenancies Act, updated in November last year, state that tenants living under a fixed-term tenancy are required to give landlords only 28 days' notice about their intention to stay or go before their tenancy ends.
This would impose a December deadline on many student tenants, but traditionally, property companies are already asking students now about their plans for next year.
In past years, property managers and landlords would offer a short window in the first half of the year in which to commit to another year, otherwise the flat would be advertised.
OUSA residential representative Patrice Le Sueur said students tended to move year-to-year, with different parts of the city favoured by different year groups.
"Reforms were broadly designed to make renting a viable long-term option for tenants, which unfortunately does not fit neatly with pre-existing flatting practices in Dunedin," he said.
Organising living arrangements in July and August was ideal because it gave students time to find flats for the following year before the pressure of end-of-year-exams and before students left the city for the summer.
Nevertheless, the changes were positive for student flat hunters because they now had "breathing room" to make decisions.
In May, Edinburgh Realty was forced to retract a letter demanding students decide their plans for next year by the end of the month, as reported by the Otago Daily Times.
However, students continued to raise concerns about being pressured by a range of property managers and landlords, Mr Le Sueur said this week.
"Students are welcome to contact OUSA Student Support for further advice."
Propertyscouts Dunedin business owner Bex Harris said student flatting culture was indeed a different market.
"All we ask is that once they know what their plans are they let us know as soon as possible."
Otago Property Investors Association president Kathryn Seque said if flat-hunting season began in December, many students would not be in town for viewings.
"They want to be able to see the property and touch the property, and make sure it doesn’t have a hole in the roof."
Attitudes among students differed, but pressure was a common theme.
Ellie (19), who did not give her last name, said she believed her flat had already been taken by another group of students for next year, without her group confirming they would move on.
"To be fair, we would never sign a flat on Castle St again - I guess that’s what they’re playing off anyways."
She and her flatmates had no accommodation arranged for next year, despite making several applications, which worried her.
Joel (20) was asked a month ago whether he planned to stay on at his flat.
He did not feel pressured to make his decision to stay on, but said taking too long to decide would mean a struggle to find a new flat.
