Charity claims tribunal fees risk blocking tenants from challenging rent rises
1 month ago | 3 comments
Tenants’ union launches tool to help renters challenge rent increases
12:01 AM, 8th June 2026, 1 week ago
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Tenants are being urged to “resist rent rises” by using an online tool to check whether they should challenge their landlord at a rent tribunal.
A group of tenants’ unions, including the London Renters Union, has launched an online tool allowing renters to assess and challenge proposed rent increases.
Under the Renters’ Rights Act, landlords must serve a Section 13 notice and are limited to one rent increase per year.
Challenging rent rises will benefit renters
On the tenants’ union website, it says challenging rent rises will benefit renters.
It says: “It’s easy to challenge your rent increase. You can save money even if you lose. Challenging rent rises will reduce increases and therefore keep the ‘market rate’ lower for everyone.”
It also asks tenants to provide more details about the property in order to suggest arguments they can take to a rent tribunal, such as damp and mould in the property, and disrepair, including broken windows or doors.
The government have announced a £47 fee for tenants challenging a rent increase through the first-tier property tribunal.
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”.
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Member Since October 2023 - Comments: 34
3:21 PM, 10th June 2026, About 5 days ago
Reply to the comment left by Martin at 08/06/2026 – 10:56
I did not increase for 5 years and only when the interest went up, now do it every year.
Member Since January 2023 - Comments: 154
9:28 AM, 13th June 2026, About 2 days ago
Reply to the comment left by Clara Skye at 08/06/2026 – 11:40
Two questions
1.Suppose there are two identical houses but one is equipped with solar panels so that the tenants energy costs are much lower. Will Tribunal consider ? I hope so
2. If Tribunal determines a rent for a tenancy, and the tenancy then ends and the landlord relets, possibly having upgraded is the rent determination under the previous tenancy still binding on the new tenancy??
Member Since April 2021 - Comments: 121
1:52 PM, 13th June 2026, About 2 days ago
I acted as if I was a tenant for just 2 of our properties and input detail for; 1. that has a new bathroom & kitchen installed & everywhere else in good to excellent condition, with an increase in rent to LHA rate for a 3bed of £1690pm (market rents as of today appear to be between £2,000 – £2400pm) & from the result it said that with their help I could save up to £4739 by challenging it at Tribunal!! I did the same for 2. a 1bed which was refurbed + new kitchen 1year ago with an increase from £1250pm to £1325pm albeit after negotiation I settled on £1300pm & at £1300pm again it said I could save up to nearly £2K vs market rents are much higher.
Is this a joke or what!
How on earth are they arriving at these figures?
How do we manage this if more tenants get wind of this site or similar sites that will no doubt be launched, whereby any rent increase even if approved by Tribunal can take up to 30 weeks for a decision thus delaying the increase by up to 7months???
I believe if Agents continue to just give high level bland reasons for the rent increase (see example below), we could end up regularly being challenged at Tribunal. Example of Agents email to Tenant: “Please find attached the formal notice regarding the proposed rent increase for the property. The landlord has reviewed the current rent in line with local market conditions and comparable properties in the area, and as a result a rent adjustment has been proposed. Please take the time to read through the attached documentation carefully. Should you have any questions or wish to discuss the matter further, please do not hesitate to contact me.”
I believe we need to be far more detailed on “how” we arrived at the proposed new rent to try & avoid challenges with actual Let Agreed comparable examples.
Member Since January 2023 - Comments: 154
3:15 PM, 13th June 2026, About 2 days ago
Reply to the comment left by Laura Delow at 13/06/2026 – 13:52
I dont see how we can cite comparables, which would involve copies of leases which may breach the tenants right to privacy.
Member Since October 2013 - Comments: 1664 - Articles: 3
3:22 PM, 13th June 2026, About 2 days ago
Reply to the comment left by Laura Delow at 13/06/2026 – 13:52
I don’t think it will matter to a renter who just wants to save money by delaying an increase, until they actually find themselves on the street and have to face paying market rent for a vacant property.
Member Since January 2026 - Comments: 1
6:51 PM, 13th June 2026, About 2 days ago
Reply to the comment left by Clara Skye at 08/06/2026 – 11:40
I just looked up MR2..
Can you get a company to do open market rent determination? I’d like that so it’s not subjective!
Member Since August 2023 - Comments: 102
10:15 PM, 13th June 2026, About 2 days ago
Notify you wish to sell!!
Member Since October 2013 - Comments: 1664 - Articles: 3
11:39 AM, 14th June 2026, About 24 hours ago
Reply to the comment left by Southern Boyuk at 13/06/2026 – 22:15
Then what?
Member Since September 2018 - Comments: 3625 - Articles: 5
10:23 AM, 15th June 2026, About 1 hour ago
Reply to the comment left by Clara Skye at 08/06/2026 – 11:40
let them go – find another tenant and charge market rate.
Member Since October 2020 - Comments: 1219
10:41 AM, 15th June 2026, About 48 minutes ago
What GR are not telling the tenant is that in a world where the number of available rental properties is falling and competition increases, tenant reputation and history is everything. Tenants who vexatiously challenge a reasonable increase simply to play the system can expect the fact to be reported to the next landlord in their reference.