Why it matters
What Section 13 Notice means for a landlord
Section 13 is how rent goes up on an assured periodic tenancy: a letter proposing a new rent has no legal effect unless it is a valid notice on Form 4A. Tenants can and do refer increases to the tribunal, so support the figure with local evidence of similar homes, and keep that evidence with a copy of the notice.
Worked example
How it plays out
Nina writes her tenant in York a letter saying the rent will go up by £60 in two months. It is not on Form 4A, so it has no effect and the rent stays the same. She downloads the current Form 4A from GOV.UK, works out a start date at least two months ahead and 52 weeks after the tenancy began, and serves it, having lost two months.
Common mistakes
Where landlords go wrong
- 01Writing your own letter instead of using Form 4A.
- 02Getting the tenancy start date wrong when working out the 52 weeks.
- 03Forgetting that a referral to the tribunal can end with a lower rent than you proposed.
What to do
A short checklist
- Download Form 4A from GOV.UK each time instead of reusing an old copy.
- Work out the earliest start date from the tenancy start or the last increase.
- Keep your local rent evidence with the notice.
Sources
Checked against these sources on 16 September 2026. A guide to the rules in England, not legal advice: for a dispute or a possession claim, speak to a solicitor.
