Form 4A: completing the Section 13 rent increase form

To increase the rent on an assured periodic tenancy in England you must serve the prescribed form – Form 4A – under section 13 of the Housing Act 1988. A letter, email or text proposing a new rent has no legal effect, however politely the tenant responds. This page covers the form itself; for the full process and timing rules see our Section 13 rent increase guide.

Where to get the current form

Download it free from gov.uk (search "Form 4A assured tenancy"). Always download fresh rather than reusing a saved copy – the prescribed forms were revised for the Renters' Rights Act, and serving a superseded version is a classic way to invalidate the notice.

Completing it, section by section

• Tenant and property details – exactly as they appear in the tenancy agreement. Mismatched names or a sloppy address invite challenge.
• The existing rent and the proposed new rent – per rent period (monthly, for post-2026 tenancies).
• The date the new rent takes effect – must be the first day of a rent period, at least two months after service, and at least 12 months after the last increase took effect.
• Landlord details and signature – including an address for service.

The five errors that sink Form 4A notices

1. Using an out-of-date version of the form.
2. An effective date that is not the start of a rent period.
3. Less than two months between service and the effective date.
4. A second increase within 12 months of the last.
5. Rent details that do not match the tenancy agreement – which is why a clean, current agreement matters as much as the form.