How to raise rent legally with a Section 13 notice

If you're on a periodic tenancy (statutory or contractual) and want to increase the rent, the standard route is a Section 13 notice under the Housing Act 1988.

The basics

• One increase per 12 months.
• Minimum one month's notice (matching the tenancy period).
• Use the official Form 4 ("Landlord's Notice proposing a new rent under an Assured Periodic Tenancy").
• The proposed rent must be a "market rent" (a tribunal can revise it down if challenged).

Common mistakes

1. Using your own wording instead of the prescribed form. The notice will be invalid.
2. Wrong end date. The new rent must start on the first day of a tenancy period (not mid-month).
3. Increasing inside the first year if the contract has its own rent-review clause that supersedes Section 13.

What if the tenant disputes it?

The tenant can refer the notice to the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) before the increase takes effect. The Tribunal will set the rent at market level. There's no appeal on the merits, only on points of law.

Better alternative for fixed terms

If you're inside a fixed term and there's no rent-review clause, your only routes are:

• Negotiate a new tenancy (signed by both parties).
• Wait for the fixed term to end and serve Section 13 once it goes periodic.

Track it in havelo

The Tenants module (/dashboard/tenants) holds the current rent. When the Section 13 takes effect, update the rent there and the dashboard income projection updates with it.

This is general guidance. For complex rent-review situations consult a solicitor.