The Government have updated their guidance for rent increases from 1st May.
When you will be able to increase rent
For assured periodic tenancies, you will only be able to increase the rent once a year. You will not be able to increase the rent in the first year of the tenancy.
How you will be able to increase the rent
You should first discuss any rent increase with your tenant to make sure it’s suitable for both parties.
You will need to complete Form 4A: Landlord’s notice proposing a new rent. The form includes guidance on how to use it to tell your tenant you’re increasing the rent. It will be published on GOV.UK for use on or after 1 May 2026.
You will need to give notice to your tenant by giving them the completed form at least 2 months before you want the rent increase to start.
This is known as the section 13 process.
You will need to follow the section 13 process every time you increase the rent, even if you have already agreed the increase with your tenants.
You will be able to give the tenant notice in the following ways:
- in person
- by post
- by email – if that’s allowed in the tenancy agreement
The increase will need to be in line with the rent that you would expect to receive if you were to relet the property on the open market.
If your tenants do not agree
If your tenant thinks the rent increase is higher than the open market rate, they will be able to ask the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) to decide what the new rent amount should be.
If you gave notice of a rent increase before 1 May 2026
If you gave your tenant notice of a rent increase using Form 4 before 1 May 2026, the rent increase will still apply, even if the new rent starts after that date. The minimum notice periods set out in Form 4 will apply.
If your tenant thinks that the rent increase is above the open-market rate they will still be able to ask the First-tier Tribunal (FTT) to decide what the new rent amount should be.
The FTT will determine a rent that is the same, higher or lower than the rent that you proposed in Form 4 and require that the new rent is paid from the date in the section 13 notice. If the tenant would suffer undue financial hardship by having to pay the rent from the notice date, the FTT will be able to order a delay up until the date of its decision.
You will not be able to increase the rent until at least a year after the last increase took effect. This applies in cases where you gave your tenant notice using Form 4, or where the increase was made by a term in the existing tenancy agreement.
Any rent increase that was agreed before 1 May 2026 under a rent review clause, but which takes effect after 1 May 2026 will not be permitted.