Tenants urged to ‘flood’ tribunals over rent rises

“Resist on principal”. Pity they’re not even smart enough to spell the word ‘principle’. Speaks volumes.

Tenant hasn’t got much to lose by taking rent increase to tribunal so can’t really blame them for doing so, (landlords would do same if they could challenge a mortgage increase!) Worse that can happen is that when it reaches the tribunal the judge will agree the increase, but tenant’s had (say) six months rent at lower cost and delayed the next rent review. But if all or most rent increases are challenged there will be a lot longer wait for case to come before the tribunal.
Then I think more landlords will simply sell up.
Question: can landlord issue S8 to evict (on genuine grounds) whilst waiting for tribunal to hear the case?

Reply to the comment left by Northernpleb at 23/10/2026 – 12:28
I believe you cannot increase the rent again for 12 months after the tribunal decision date. This becomes a de facto rent freeze if they immediately challenge the next increase 12 months later, the tribunals are so overloaded that decisions take 8-12 months, you have to wait a further 12 months for the next increase, only for the tenant to challenge again. And so it continues…

Why would anyone put up with this when they have a choice?

Reply to the comment left by Northernpleb at 23/10/2026 – 12:28
“The Tenants have nothing to Loose by working the system”

Except their reputation and therefore their prospects of a decent property for their next rental.

I agree with the rest of your post.

Reply to the comment left by Jill Church at 23/10/2026 – 13:31
Point being nobody is supporting the landlord, only the tenant. Isn’t selling up a valid ground for S8.

Reply to the comment left by DPT at 23/10/2026 – 14:10
I’m afraid there are far too many renters who believe they’re getting one over their landlord, and think they are being clever. Thoughts of future accommodation just don’t figure at the time. But if I do get another tenant before I sell, my first question will be ‘have you ever challenged a rent increase?’

Having considered this policy carefully when it was proposed it was obvious that this tactic of challenging every rent increase would happen as there were no repercussions but only benefits, I can actually see a silver lining in this policy. Firstly all the tenants who challenge a rent increase will be on a public register so its straight forward enough to reject a tenant in the future if they appear on the register ( I acknowledge this will take time to filter through) . Secondly as landlords we can easily contact the local letting agents to establish a reasonable rent for a given property, we could even pay for a list of agreed rentals as our proof as the tribunals are looking at actual rents paid not asking prices. At least now we will be in a more informed place when we increase rents and I would encourage all landlords to now consider an increase in rent on an annual basis but do your homework first. Its just as easy to send out a notice of increase of £1 per month as long as its carried out annually.

Some landlords, I imagine quite a number will sell when a tenant frivolously objects to a reasonable rent rise.

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Setting unbalanced law is the politics of imbeciles. What’s remarkable is that they fit everyone to go along with it.

Reply to the comment left by David at 14:11
Yes selling up is valid ground for S21, but wasn’t sure you could actually evict while waiting for rent challenge was in process/waiting for tribunal, as it may look like retaliation. However, I believe S8 can be issued if genuine reason, like selling, arrears etc