Tenants’ union launches tool to help renters challenge rent increases

My understanding is we can only raise rents once a year, which I personally think is morally correct anyway. However, here is my question. If I raise the rent and it is challenged ( obviously they all will be!). Then due to the delay and the court system not being fit for purpose we then trip over 12 months time period, can I issue another rent increase whilst the first one is being challenged? The fair rent for the area will have risen again. So I could have a £1000 rent with a £50 increase being challenged to £1050. Then another increase of £50 to £1100 in the pipeline. This is madness as they say. How long before we get to point of saying I’ll lose a bit more of my equity just to unload. The PRS is ultimately going end up selling to asset management and investment companies. This will benefit no one normal and the scary thing is if you own enough properties you can dictate to the Government.

Its a Heads you win , Tails You also Win . for tenants If you Loose You have still Saved a years rent increase , If you win you still save a Years rent increase.

For landlords with low rent it could be a perfect tool, just type in increasing rents to see where the ‘don’t challenge’ barriers are set.

Where legislation adds to your costs, add this to you tenant notification. If NI comes in, that will be an increase due to government taxes to again highlight. Put the blame where it belongs

Thanks for reminding me that my rents are over 20% below market rate. I think it’s about time to increase them.

Reply to the comment left by Desert Rat at 15:21
I allowed that to happen for 6 years, because I could afford to do so due to low mortgage rates. Then my mortgage went through the roof. I’ve achieved market rent only after 3 large increases, but even if I can increase my rent by a small amount, it still won’t cover my costs. I am still subsidising my tenants! How I wish my lender would be so considerate.

All it means is every rent increase will need to be pitched at £10-15 below the market rate. The only evidence the T can put forward is the same info the LL is relying on, so LL’s just need to really know the market.

Alternatively (just before you issue a S13) get a rental agent in to value the property for both letting and selling purposes. That alone may put the wind up the tenant (thinking you might be looking to sell) so when you do send them a S13 they will know not only have you got professional guidance on the matter but that if they don’t agree you may be looking to give them notice to sell….

Reply to the comment left by Reluctant Landlord at 08/06/2026 – 21:56
Tenants are being supported, even with legal costs, and landlords are being left with nowhere to turn. The tenant can simply say ‘no’ to the increase, even if it is set just below the market rent, because they can. The result will be many months of delay, only for the tribunal to probably agree the increase. The tenant will have saved quite a bit of money in the interim, and you can’t issue another S13 for another 12 months, at which time the tenant can do exactly the same thing again… and again… and again. What’s to stop them?

You will say the bond of trust between landlord and tenant has been broken, but so what? Tenants aren’t your friends. There is no relationship in the majority of cases, and they are now being advised that there is nothing the landlord can do about it. There’s no point ‘bluffing’ to sell, unless you intend to actually go through with it, followed by a costly void and potentially a no sale, followed by a further 12.months void before you can re-let it.

Landlords really are screwed, and that’s just one element of the RRA.

Lets hope the Tenant does not call the Council in. The none Paying Tenants are usually the ones that damage the Property .

Reply to the comment left by Martin at 08/06/2026 – 10:56
I totally agree and us landlords can use their tool to see what the maximum is.
The tool is very very aggressive and anti landlord.