Section 13 Rent Increase
A Section 13 notice is the formal mechanism by which a landlord of a periodic assured shorthold tenancy can propose a rent increase. The landlord must give the tenant at least one month's notice (or a full rental period for periodic tenancies longer than a month), and the increase can only take effect once per year. Tenants who consider the proposed increase above market rate can refer it to a First-tier Tribunal for determination.
Section 13 of the Housing Act 1988 governs landlord-initiated rent increases in periodic assured (and assured shorthold) tenancies where no rent review clause exists. The landlord must use the prescribed Form 4 (Increase of Rent for a Periodic Tenancy). The notice must give at least one month's advance notice (or one full period if the period is longer than a month), and can only be served once every 12 months — so a landlord cannot raise rent twice in the same year via this route. The increase takes effect on the date specified in the notice unless the tenant challenges it. To challenge, the tenant must apply to the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) before the effective date — the tribunal will set the market rent, which could theoretically be higher than proposed, so take advice first. Under the Renters Rights Act 2025 reforms, a single annual increase mechanism will apply to all tenancies going forward.