Rent increase rules in England: what landlords must do and what you can challenge
Your landlord can only increase your rent once per year. They must use a specific statutory form (section 13 notice), give the correct notice period, and cannot increase by more than the open market rate without you being able to challenge it at the First-tier Tribunal.
An informal letter, email, or WhatsApp message is not a valid section 13 notice and does not create a legal obligation to pay the increased amount. Only a correctly completed statutory form with the correct notice period is valid.
If you believe the proposed increase exceeds the open market rent, you can refer it to the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) before the effective date — for free. The Tribunal cannot set rent above the market rate.
Free checkers
- Rent increase checker
Check whether a rent increase notice used the correct form, period, and 12-month gap. - Renters' Rights Act guide
Full overview of all reforms including the once-per-year rent increase limit.
Related guidance inside this topic
- If your next step turns on section 13 rent increase rules, read rent rise checker.
- For the dates, forms, and evidence behind section 13 rent increase rules, see England tenant rights guide before you respond.
- If this issue overlaps with section 13 rent increase rules, check old rules vs new rules guide to compare the legal tests.
- For a fuller breakdown of section 13 rent increase rules, use Renters' Rights Act 2026 guide for the underlying rule set.
- If you need the route-specific rules on section 13 rent increase rules, start with tenant checklist so you can check the dates and documents against your own case.
Related articles
- Section 21 notice invalid: reasons and what to do
The defect checklist for legacy Section 21 notices, including deposit, gas safety, licensing, and retaliatory eviction points. - Section 21 abolished: what happens now?
The transition guide for pre-cutoff notices, the 1 May 2026 changeover, and when possession analysis switches to Section 8. - Section 21 validity outcome guides
Index of all 72 outcome guides from the Section 21 checker — grouped by topic: deposit protection, prescribed documents, notice timing, licensing, and retaliatory eviction. - Can my landlord evict me in 2026?
A route-selection guide for tenants trying to distinguish valid possession, informal pressure, and unlawful eviction. - Section 8 eviction grounds in 2026
The main guide to mandatory and discretionary Section 8 grounds, notice periods, evidence, and court reasoning.
Common questions
- How often can my landlord increase my rent?
- From 1 May 2026, a landlord can only propose one rent increase per 12-month period. They must wait at least 12 months since the last increase before serving a new section 13 notice. Any clause in a tenancy agreement allowing more frequent increases is void.
- Can I challenge a rent increase?
- Yes. If you believe the proposed increase exceeds open market rent, refer it to the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) before the effective date. The referral is free. The Tribunal cannot set rent above market rate.
- Does my landlord have to use a specific form to increase rent?
- Yes. For a periodic assured shorthold tenancy in England, the landlord must use the prescribed section 13 notice form. An informal letter, email, or verbal notification is not valid and does not create a legal obligation to pay the increased amount.
Use the interactive checker on getrentersrights.com for the full step-by-step result.