For an assured periodic tenancy in England, a proposed rent increase needs both a considered amount and the correct process. An informal conversation or a general market headline is not a substitute for checking the applicable rules.
Check timing and the form
Current government guidance says rent cannot rise in the first year of the tenancy and can normally be increased only once a year. The landlord must provide at least two months’ notice using the section 13 process and completed Form 4A. Check the tenancy history and effective date before preparing the notice.
Keep the market evidence usable
If you are reviewing comparable properties, record when each example was available, its location, size, condition and what the rent included. Keep asking rents distinct from rents actually agreed. A small number of unsuitable examples can give a misleading impression of the market for the specific home.
Allow for a challenge
The First-tier Tribunal may determine a dispute where the proposed increase is above the open-market rent. Keep the notice and supporting documents together, and read the relevant tribunal guidance promptly if a challenge is made. Do not assume that silence at an earlier conversation settles a later dispute.
Check older notices separately
Government guidance distinguishes notices served before 1 May 2026 from the newer process, including different treatment of earlier Form 4 notices and rent-review clauses. Seek advice if the dates cross that transition rather than applying a new form retrospectively.
Source: GOV.UK, Assured periodic tenancies: rent increases. This is general information for the stated tenancy type in England. Government information used under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Editorial review: 15 October 2026. This original Property Perpetuity guide replaces the imported text; the original archive publication date is retained.