Tenants’ union launches tool to help renters challenge rent increases

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”.