Your landlord wants more. Challenge it.

Since 1 May 2026, your landlord can only raise the rent once a year, using the prescribed form (Form 4A), with at least 2 months’ warning. If you think the proposed rent is above the market rate — or the notice itself has problems — you can take it to the housing tribunal.

Check your Section 13 notice

Answer four questions to see if the notice is valid.

Did your landlord use Form 4A?

Did you receive at least 2 months' notice?

Is this within the first 12 months of your tenancy?

Was your rent increased in the past 12 months?

Notice appears valid on these answers

A valid notice does not mean you have to accept the rent. You have the right to refer the

to the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) — they will assess what comparable properties in your area actually rent for and set the maximum chargeable rent. Once the effective date shown on your notice passes, this right disappears permanently and the increase takes effect automatically.

Potential issues found

A bad notice doesn’t legally count — but it won’t go away on its own. You need to either take it to the tribunal or write to your landlord and tell them what’s wrong. Acting fast stops any argument about whether the new rent applies.

To take this to the tribunal you need to file the right form before the new rent kicks in — backed up by what similar homes near you actually rent for and a short written statement. We’ll write the whole thing for you. Fixed fee — £67.

How long do I have to file?

Enter the effective date shown on your Form 4A notice.

The effective date was

ago. You can no longer challenge this specific notice — but if your landlord serves a new notice, you have the full right to challenge that one.

Act immediately — less than 2 weeks remaining.

Before that date you need to file

with the First-tier Tribunal, gather comparable rents for properties in your area, and submit a written statement of your grounds. Once the deadline passes, the increase takes effect automatically — there is no right of appeal after the fact.

Start My Claim prepares your complete

— application, comparables guide, and supporting statement. Fixed fee — £67.

Challenge Rent Increase

Rent Increase Challenge

Your landlord wants more.

Since 1 May 2026, your landlord can only raise the rent once a year, using the prescribed form (

), with at least 2 months’ warning. If you think the proposed rent is above the market rate — or the notice itself has problems — you can take it to the housing tribunal.

checks your notice for problems in seconds — a defective notice means the increase is invalid, full stop. We then build your tribunal challenge with

from properties near you. The tribunal sets a fair rent — and it can’t go higher than what your landlord asked for, so there’s no downside to challenging.

saving at avg increase

From notice received to tribunal application.

You must apply before the date the increase is due to take effect. Act quickly — we can prepare your application in under an hour.

We verify whether the Section 13 notice complies with the rules: Form 4A used, 2 months' notice given, not within the first year of tenancy, and not too soon after the last increase.

Build your Form 4A application

We generate your Form 4A referral to the Property Chamber, draft your supporting statement, and provide a comparables checklist so you can show the proposed rent exceeds the market rate.

File your application with the First-tier Tribunal before the effective date. We give you a guide to what happens at the determination hearing and how to present your comparables.

What’s included at £67

Everything to challenge your rent increase.

Section 13 Notice Validator

Checks Form 4A compliance, notice period, timing restrictions, and frequency rules under the Renters' Rights Act 2025.

Generated referral to the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) — complete and pre-filled from your answers.

Supporting Statement

Structured witness statement setting out your tenancy history, the proposed increase, and your grounds for referral.

Comparables Checklist

Identifies what evidence to gather — comparable properties, Rightmove/Zoopla searches, local rental index data — and how to present it to the tribunal.

Tribunal Procedure Guide

Step-by-step guide to the Property Chamber process: filing, the hearing, and what the determination means for your tenancy.

Legislation Reference

The relevant sections of the Housing Act 1988 (as amended by the Renters' Rights Act 2025) that govern rent increase procedure.

Simple, fixed pricing

One price. Full application. Ready to file.

No subscription. No hidden extras. £67 flat fee covers your notice check, Form 4A, statement, and comparables guide.

Rent Challenge — per case

One-off · this case only

Fixed fee · No subscription

Tribunal fees are set by HMCTS and paid separately. Check the current fee schedule on GOV.UK before applying — fees can change.

Rent increase challenge FAQ

Don’t accept an unfair rent rise.

The law gives you the right to challenge. The tribunal cannot set the rent higher than your landlord proposed. The risk is small. The right is yours. Start My Claim prepares everything for £67.

Act before the notice effective date

Act before the effective date.

You must apply to the tribunal before the date the proposed rent increase is due to take effect. Once the date passes, you lose the right to challenge this notice. Do not wait.

Not legal advice. Start My Claim is document-assembly software that helps you challenge a rent increase yourself at the First-tier Tribunal. For complex situations, get a second opinion from a qualified housing solicitor.

Sources: Housing Act 1988, s.13 (as amended by Renters’ Rights Act 2025) · Renters’ Rights Act 2025, s.7–9 · First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Rules 2013 (SI 2013/1169) · MHCLG: Guidance for landlords on the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 · Renters’ Rights Act 2025 Information Sheet (GOV.UK, 2026)