Evicting a protected tenant for not paying rent increase?

Hi, I’ve had a protected tenant living in the same property for over 20 years, part of that time as a widow. I’m allowed to apply to the Valuation Office for a rent increase every two years, but occasionally, it’s been after three years, meaning the rent is significantly below the current market rate.

Earlier this year, I applied for a rent increase, and the Valuation Office set the new monthly rent, effective from 23rd April. On 13th May, I gave the tenant more than two months’ notice of the rent increase of £30.33, to begin from the contractual date of 1st August. She usually pays on the 28th of each month by agreement.

Although she is continuing to pay the previous rent amount each month, she is not paying the increase and is refusing to answer any of my letters, of which there have been several. As she has a protected tenancy, do I have the option to commence eviction for non-payment of rent?

This is not the route I want to take, and I have offered to help her move to a more suitable property, as the three bedroomed property she occupies on her own is much too large and she does not seem able to heat it in winter and the property is always in a filthy state.

Thanks,

Malcolm