The rent increase letter is dead: what works in 2026
Search for a rent increase letter template and you will find hundreds. Under the Renters' Rights Act, almost none of them work: an informal letter cannot increase the rent on an assured periodic tenancy at all.
The only lawful route
Rent increases run exclusively through Section 13: the prescribed Form 4A, at least two months' notice, taking effect at the start of a rent period, and no more than once in any 12 months. Rent review clauses in old agreements are inoperative; a letter that says "your rent will be £X from next month" has no legal effect, and a tenant who pays it anyway can create a mess both sides regret.
What a covering letter is still for
Human context. Serving a bare statutory form lands better with a short accompanying note: why the increase, what comparable local rents look like, and an invitation to discuss. The form does the legal work; the letter does the relationship work. What the letter must never do is contradict the form's date or figure.
If the tenant objects
The tenant can refer the proposed rent to the First-tier Tribunal before the start date, which then sets a market rent. Realistic figures rarely get referred; ambitious ones do. The full process, dates and tactics are in the Section 13 guide.
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Start my agreement →Frequently asked questions
Can a landlord increase rent with a simple letter?
No. On an assured periodic tenancy only a Section 13 notice on Form 4A with two months' notice can increase the rent, at most once in 12 months.
What if the tenant just agrees to pay more?
The Act channels increases through Section 13 precisely to avoid informal pressure. Use the form even where the conversation is friendly: it protects both sides and the rent's enforceability.