Landlord asks for £50 more and now he’s £2,400 a year worse off!
2 days ago | 6 comments
Tenants urged to ‘flood’ tribunals over rent rises
12:05 AM, 23rd October 2026, 2 days ago
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Landlords seeking even minimal rent increases could face tribunal challenges after campaign groups encouraged tenants to contest rises.
The Telegraph reports that tenants’ groups in Oxford, London and Manchester are promoting challenges even where tenants can afford the proposed increase.
Applications cost £47 under the rules introduced in May, with tenants continuing to pay their existing rent while the tribunal considers their case.
Rent tribunal delay warnings
Chris Norris, of the National Residential Landlords Association, told the Telegraph: “It is disappointing that campaigners appear to be using the frailty in the system to instigate a de facto rent freeze by ‘flooding’ the tribunal with potentially vexatious claims.
“This is irresponsible and will lead to poorer outcomes for landlords and tenants who rely on a functioning tribunal system.”
Nathan Emerson, the chief executive of Propertymark, told the newspaper: “The tribunal process is an important safeguard against unfair rent increases, but it should not be used as a tactic to deliberately create delays.”
Jae Vail, a spokesman for the London Renters Union, said: “Every renter should exercise their hard-won legal right to challenge the unaffordable rent increases that landlords are demanding from us.”
Union urges ‘resistance’
A guide from a network of tenants’ unions says tenants can apply to a tribunal up to one day before their proposed rent increase takes effect.
Oxford Renters Union puts the time taken to reach a decision at five to six months from the date of appeal.
Its website states:
“Renters who challenge increases save £1,140 per year on average.
“Rent tribunals save you money even if you lose.
“The more people that take cases to the tribunal, the slower it will be for everyone, and the longer you will pay the lower rent.
“Even if you think you can afford the rent increase. Even if your proposed rent increase is minimal. Resist. Resist on principal.
“Resist for the others in your community who can barely afford their groceries. Resist because landlords simply do not need and do not deserve another pay rise by leeching off of our hard work. Our labour should not be their pocket money.”
Minister welcomes tribunal decision
The tenants’ campaign follows Property118’s report of a landlord whose request for an extra £50 a month resulted in a tribunal cutting the existing rent by £200.
Housing minister Matthew Pennycook shared a link to that case on X on Tuesday evening, describing it as an example of how the rules empower ‘private renters to challenge unreasonable rent increases’.
He said: “If a tenant believes a proposed rent increase is above the open-market rent, they can refer the matter to the first-tier tribunal.”
Under the Renters’ Rights Act, landlords can increase rent only once a year.
A Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government spokesman said: “Our Renters’ Rights Act empowers private rented sector tenants to challenge unreasonable rent increases through tribunals – stopping landlords from using increases as a backdoor means of eviction.”
Tags:
first-tier tribunal, Landlord news, rent increases, Rent Tribunal, Renters’ Rights Act, tenant campaigns
30 comments on this article
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Member Since June 2013 - Comments: 602
6:19 PM, 23rd October 2026, About 1 day ago
The faster and louder the tenants groups shout about how to succesfully resist rent rises the quicker the tribunal system will become overwhelmed . Then the RRA will be amended to close these emerging flaws in the legislation , and if they dont the quicker estate agents will receive instructions to sell and the rental crisis only deepens . Hope their go website goes viral and in turn that will move the need for amendments much quicker up the govs agenda .
Some actions are self defeating
The Cobra effect
Member Since September 2015 - Comments: 1045
7:57 AM, 24th October 2026, About 20 hours ago
…. Accompany each rent increase notification with a statement saying that without the proposed increase the property will be financially unviable and will have to be sold and they will have to find a new home.
Then if they submit an appeal serve the appropriate notice a get a few estate agents around to value the property. And give the Tenants a final opportunity to withdraw their appeal before placing on the market.
Member Since June 2013 - Comments: 602
9:40 AM, 24th October 2026, About 19 hours ago
Reply to the comment left by Gromit at 24/10/2026 – 07:57
Yes good idea. I was thinking along the same lines . It doesnt come under the terms which could be construed as a revenge eviction ( yet!)
Member Since May 2019 - Comments: 129
11:06 AM, 24th October 2026, About 17 hours ago
Why can the Government not introduce a measure that would allow any Landlord to increase rents say 1-2 % over annual inflation . Simple legislation in my view.
No, they won’t even countenance the idea. More evidence that they will continue with the Rent Tribunal Mafia hell bent on thrashing LLs.
Carchester
Member Since September 2015 - Comments: 1045
11:37 AM, 24th October 2026, About 17 hours ago
Reply to the comment left by Jonathan Clarke at 24/10/2026 – 09:40
If you forewarn the tenant when you serve the rent increase notice how is that revenge?
Member Since October 2020 - Comments: 1399
12:28 PM, 24th October 2026, About 16 hours ago
Reply to the comment left by Gromit at 24/10/2026 – 07:57
The problem with that idea is that once you serve the ground 1a notice, even if you withdraw it there is still a 16 month period from the date of service where you can’t re-let the property if the tenant leaves. That gives the tenant a very strong negotiating position.
Member Since June 2013 - Comments: 602
1:02 PM, 24th October 2026, About 15 hours ago
Reply to the comment left by Gromit at 24/10/2026 – 11:37
I think it could and will be viewed by many tenants and independants as a potentially veiled threat and coercive behaviour . It may well not be of course if the landlord can prove he is actually is in financial difficulties and needs to sell because hes lost his job etc. but the unsaid implication is there in that you to many will appear to be saying in effect… If you dont pay the increase however large I make it I will evict you in revenge for not accepting the increase and I will sell my property which will make you homeless. It could be viewed as harrassment and an unlawful pressure tactic. Its a grey area though and each would have to be looked at on a case by case basis . At its best it could be said with great true regret and transparency by an apologetic LL who has hit hard times but also gets on really well with his tenant of 20 years . At is worst it could be akin to a baliff with an aggressive bang on the door at 8pm unannounced and agressively delivered with a few swear words thrown in showing no compassion by a 6ft 5 bloke towering over a diminuitive vulnerable timid single mum who is terrified for herself and her baby and caves in and pays as a result because she feels so intimidated
Member Since April 2018 - Comments: 663
2:17 PM, 24th October 2026, About 14 hours ago
Reply to the comment left by Jonathan Clarke at 24/10/2026 – 13:02
This is how ridiculous the situation has become when an investor/landlord can not simple say this is no longer viable or too stressful and I want out. Someone should not need to even prove they are in financial difficulty to say they wish to sell THEIR property it is their right but it seems now these rights are being seriously eroded by the Renters Rights Act.
Member Since September 2018 - Comments: 3773 - Articles: 5
5:14 PM, 24th October 2026, About 11 hours ago
Reply to the comment left by Ian Narbeth at 11:15
it should be a question on a tenancy application form. Another thing to ask which, if they lie, can be easily detected as the tribunal findings are public. Not a lot of tenants are aware of that.
Member Since June 2013 - Comments: 602
2:01 AM, 25th October 2026, About 2 hours ago
Reply to the comment left by David at 24/10/2026 – 14:17
Agreed . Their resentment against LL`s is sometimes palpable . But if given the opportunity 99.9% would in fact love to swap places with me if they could. But because they cant, they kick up out of misplaced envy and jealousy. Communists are often cloaked capitalists at heart me thinks