Landlords face £3,000 eviction bills under Section 8 possession claims
1 month ago | 2 comments
Government announce fee for tenants appealing rent increases
9:09 AM, 26th March 2026, 3 weeks ago
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The government has claimed it “wants to ensure justice is protected for all” after announcing a £47 fee for tenants challenging a rent increase through the first-tier property tribunal.
In a written question, Justice Minister Sarah Sackman confirmed that the government has put forward legislation to begin implementing a new fees framework in the Property Chamber.
The news comes after a tenant group slammed the government over the fees tenants must pay to access rent tribunals.
£47 for applications to appeal a rent increase
In a written question, Labour MP Kerry McCarthy asked: “What the Ministry of Justice has made of the potential impact of extending courts and tribunal fees to challenging Section 13 rent increases through the First-Tier Tribunal on the number of rent increase challenges.”
In response, Ms Sackman confirmed under proposed legislation tenants would pay £47 with no hearing fee for applications to appeal a rent increase.
She said: “The Ministry of Justice keeps all fees under continuous review to ensure that His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) has the resources necessary to operate fairly and efficiently, while ensuring access to justice is protected for all.
“The government has laid legislation to begin the process of implementing a new fees framework in the Property Chamber. The purpose of the new framework is to deliver a fair and sustainable Property Chamber that is accessible to all. The framework includes a fee of £47 for applications to appeal a rent increase, with no hearing fee, this is one of the lowest fees across HMCTS.
“The Help with Fees scheme will always be available to provide financial support to those who cannot afford to pay fees. In 2024/25, we remitted £91 million of fees income to protect access to justice. The changes are subject to Parliamentary consent.”
Landlords in limbo
As previously reported by Property118, under the Renters’ Rights Act, any rent increase upheld by the tribunal would take effect only from the date of its decision, rather than when the landlord first served notice. This means that even unsuccessful challenges could delay higher rent payments for months, leaving landlords in limbo.
Geoffrey Vos, Master of the Rolls and head of civil justice in England and Wales, warned the Housing Law Practitioners’ Association that the rules under the Renters’ Rights Act could create “an incentive for tenants to apply to the First Tier Tribunal in respect of every increase in order to delay its implementation”.
Tags:
First-tier Tribunal Property Chamber, Ministry of Justice, Rent increase, rent increase challenge, Renters’ Rights Act
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Member Since August 2019 - Comments: 25
10:19 AM, 26th March 2026, About 3 weeks ago
Interesting that the tenants know the ( low ) fee they will pay if they challenge rent, yet the Landlords are still in the dark about the ( compulsory) database fee
Member Since October 2023 - Comments: 63
10:27 AM, 26th March 2026, About 3 weeks ago
I make a prediction…. EVERY rent increase is going to be challenged. No landlord will bother to increase the rent by less than £50, so for £47 a tenant can block the increase until the hearing (probably 18 months +) Labour really are screwing landlords
Member Since March 2022 - Comments: 364
10:58 AM, 26th March 2026, About 3 weeks ago
To be honest I am surprised that it isn’t free for tenants with the landlord having to pay a fee if they want to fight a tenants claim. Even if a rent rise is justified, it will be months before a decision is made and there will be no backdating to recompense the landlord, although landlord faults can result in a backdated rent repayment order.
I wonder if a landlord would be able to sell while there is a rent tribunal claim going through? If so, I think many will just sell up and, invest the money somewhere more secure. I suspect many others would do the same when there are tenant problems as it’s a game that a landlord can never win. It seems like Section 1A is pretty much the only mandatory ground for eviction under Section 8 (although the requirements for the process are not defined yet- just like the fees for landlord registration, ombudsman scheme etc.). Assuming that it is a mandatory ground there should be no need to take up much court time. It could be an online process. A landlord fills in a form uploads any relevant documents , pays a fee and that essentially should be that. Unless a court is allowed to stop you selling your own property.
Member Since June 2019 - Comments: 772
11:50 AM, 26th March 2026, About 3 weeks ago
Any challenge will result in a full market value increase in all subsequent years.
Member Since January 2024 - Comments: 344
11:58 AM, 26th March 2026, About 3 weeks ago
Reply to the comment left by Paul Essex at 26/03/2026 – 11:50
Any challenge is likely to result in landlords deciding enough is enough and selling the property!
Member Since August 2019 - Comments: 25
12:10 PM, 26th March 2026, About 3 weeks ago
For the sake of £47, why, as a tenant would you not challenge even a small increase in rent e.g. £10 pcm as you are still well in profit. The meagre application fee will do nothing to dissuade chancers. Don’t even get me started on those who will rent for two months, treating the property as an Air B and B, not pay for utilities and then clear off leaving the Landlord to pick up the pieces. With an Agent’s let only fees often costing in excess of £500, this is not sustainable if it is needed several times a year.
Member Since February 2016 - Comments: 977 - Articles: 1
1:00 PM, 26th March 2026, About 3 weeks ago
Reply to the comment left by Amethyst at 26/03/2026 – 10:19
It is because tenants are now ruling the PRS market.
Member Since October 2023 - Comments: 63
1:06 PM, 26th March 2026, About 3 weeks ago
Reform UK vow to scrap the Renters’ Rights Act
I guess that will push any landlords left in that direction then.
Member Since January 2020 - Comments: 134
1:14 PM, 26th March 2026, About 3 weeks ago
Reply to the comment left by Tim Peters at 26/03/2026 – 13:06
Or push them right in that direction!
Member Since June 2014 - Comments: 1562
1:32 PM, 26th March 2026, About 3 weeks ago
Reply to the comment left by Amethyst at 26/03/2026 – 12:10
“For the sake of £47, why, as a tenant would you not challenge even a small increase in rent”
Despite the huge anti-landlord propaganda, landlords and tenants get on well together, most tenancies work on goodwill. Any rent increase challenge would destroy that.
Secondly, any competent landlord will routinely check prospective tenants on the register here;
https://www.judiciary.uk/judgments/tribunal-decisions/