Section13Check
New Renters' Rights Act rules

Is your rent increase notice actually valid?

Enter the details from your landlord's section 13 notice. In two minutes you'll know whether it meets the rules in England, and the date you must act by.

Check your notice →How it works
Based on GOV.UK and Shelter guidanceNo account needed
What we check

Five rules a section 13 notice has to meet

If a notice gets any of these wrong, it is not valid and your rent cannot go up on the strength of it. The landlord would have to start again with a new notice.

01

Form 4A

From 1 May 2026 the increase must be proposed on the prescribed section 13 form, not a letter or email.

02

Two months' notice

At least two months between you receiving the notice and the new rent starting.

03

Once a year

No increase within 52 weeks of the last one, or of the tenancy starting.

04

Right start date

The new rent has to begin on the first day of a rental period.

05

Signed and correct

Signed by the landlord or agent, with your correct name and address.

How it works

From notice to next step in minutes

Have the notice in front of you. You'll need the dates, the rent figures and how often you pay.

1

Enter your notice

A short, guided form: your tenancy, the notice and the proposed rent. Your answers stay in your browser until you choose to get the pack.

2

See the verdict

Each rule is checked. You see whether the notice looks valid and the last date to apply to the tribunal.

3

Get your pack

Your letter to the landlord, tribunal answers ready to copy, and a dated checklist. As a PDF, and by email.

The challenge pack

Everything you need to push back, written for your notice

  • Letter to your landlordIf the notice is invalid, a clear letter saying why and that you'll keep paying the current rent. If it's valid, a negotiation letter with your counter-offer.
  • Tribunal application, step by stepHow to apply to the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) online or on form MR1, with your answers pre-filled and ready to copy.
  • Evidence listWhat the tribunal looks at, and how to gather comparable rents and photos.
  • Deadline checklistDated actions worked out from your notice, so nothing slips.
One pack, one notice
£5
Charged once, in pounds sterling, via PayPal.
Check your notice →

You see the verdict and your deadline before you decide. Document helper, not legal advice.

Guides

Know the rules before you reply

Plain-English guides for private tenants in England, checked against GOV.UK, legislation.gov.uk and Shelter. All guides →

Is my section 13 notice valid?How to tell if a section 13 rent increase notice is valid in England after 1 May 2026: Form 4A, two months' notice, the 52-week rule, the start date and correct details.How much notice does a landlord have to give for a rent increase?Private landlords in England must give at least two months' notice of a rent increase on Form 4A from 1 May 2026. How to count the period, how service works, and what happens if it is too short.How to challenge a rent increase at tribunalStep by step: how private tenants in England challenge a rent increase at the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) after 1 May 2026, including the deadline, the £47 fee, form MR1 and evidence.Form 4A explainedWhat Form 4A is, what each part should say, how it must be served, and how to check it, for private tenants in England from 1 May 2026.Rent increase letter template for tenantsTemplate letters for tenants in England: tell your landlord a section 13 notice is invalid, or negotiate a lower rent increase. With tips on what to include and how to send it.Renters' Rights Act rent increase rulesA plain-English summary of the Renters' Rights Act 2025 rules on rent increases for private tenants in England from 1 May 2026: section 13, Form 4A, two months' notice, once a year, and challenging at tribunal.
FAQ

Questions tenants ask

What does Section13Check do?

You enter the details from your landlord's rent increase notice. We check it against the section 13 rules that apply in England, show you whether it looks valid and your key deadline, and can then prepare a personalised pack: a letter to your landlord, tribunal guidance with your answers filled in, and a deadline checklist.

What changed on 1 May 2026?

The Renters' Rights Act changed how private rents can go up in England. Landlords must now use a section 13 notice on Form 4A and give at least two months' notice. Rent can only go up once a year, rent review clauses in tenancy agreements no longer work, and you cannot be evicted for challenging an increase. If you challenge a notice given on or after 1 May 2026, the tribunal cannot set a rent higher than the landlord asked for.

Who is it for?

Private tenants in England with an assured or assured shorthold tenancy who have received a rent increase notice. It is not designed for social housing tenants, regulated (fair rent) tenancies, lodgers, or tenants in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland, where different rules apply.

What happens if my notice is not valid?

If the notice is not valid, your rent does not go up because of it. Your landlord would need to serve a new, correct notice. The pack includes a letter explaining the problem to your landlord, and you can ask the First-tier Tribunal to decide whether the notice is valid.

What is the deadline to challenge?

You must apply to the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) before the date the new rent is due to start, as stated in the notice. We show this date as soon as you complete the check.

How much does the tribunal cost?

The tribunal application fee is £47 for notices dated on or after 1 May 2026. You may get help with the fee if you have little or no savings and receive certain benefits or are on a low income. This fee is paid to the tribunal and is separate from the price of the pack.

Is this legal advice?

No. Section13Check is a document helper, not legal advice. We explain the published rules and prepare documents from your answers. For advice about your situation, contact Shelter, Citizens Advice or a local law centre.

What do I get in the pack, and how?

A PDF with your letter to the landlord (an invalid-notice letter or a negotiation letter), step-by-step tribunal guidance with pre-filled answers, an evidence list and a dated checklist. You can open it straight after payment and we email you a copy.

How much does the pack cost?

The pack costs £5.00 (GBP), charged once via PayPal. Payment is handled by PayPal; we never see your card details.