Section 13 Notice
The only lawful way to raise rent on an assured periodic tenancy. One increase per 12 months with at least one month's notice. Tenant can refer to the First-tier Tribunal which can cap the rent at market rate.
At a glance
- Cadence
- Once in any 12-month period
- Minimum notice
- 1 month
- Tribunal cap
- Open-market rent
Full guide
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Open full guideWhy Section 13 Notice matters for landlords
Section 13 is the only way to raise rent on an assured periodic tenancy — a mid-tenancy "letter suggesting a new rent" has no legal effect unless served as Section 13. The tribunal route is real and tenants use it: always support the proposed rent with 3–5 Rightmove comparables dated within 30 days of service.
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Official sources
LetCompliance editorial reviews this entry every quarter against the sources above. Always confirm specific duties with a qualified solicitor or your local council.
Related terms
Rent Increase Notice (Section 13)
A notice under Section 13 of the Housing Act 1988 used to increase rent on an assured periodic tenancy. Under the Renters Rights Act 2025 (in force 1 May 2026) the landlord must give at least 2 months’ notice on the prescribed Form 4, can use it only once in any 12-month period, and cannot raise rent in the first 12 months of a tenancy. Tenants can challenge the increase at the First-tier Tribunal, which can no longer set a higher rent than the landlord proposed.
Schedule 2 (Housing Act 1988 Possession Grounds)
The schedule of statutory grounds a landlord uses to seek possession of an assured / assured shorthold tenancy under Section 8. Grounds 1–8 are mandatory (court must grant possession if proven): includes ground 1 (landlord-occupier intent), ground 1A (landlord sale, post-RRA 2025), ground 8 (3+ months rent arrears post-RRA 2025), ground 14 (anti-social behaviour). Grounds 9–17 are discretionary (court considers reasonableness): includes ground 11 (persistent late payment) and ground 12 (breach of tenancy). Choice of ground sets the notice period and the burden of proof.
Section 21 Notice
The no-fault eviction notice under Section 21 of the Housing Act 1988. Abolished for new notices from 1 May 2026 under the Renters Rights Act 2025. Landlords must now use Section 8 with a specified ground.
Section 21 Prerequisites
The bundle of pre-conditions a private landlord in England must satisfy before a Section 21 notice (Form 6A) is valid: deposit protected within 30 days plus Prescribed Information served, current Gas Safety Certificate served, current EICR served, and current GOV.UK How to Rent guide served on the tenant. Miss any one and the court will dismiss an accelerated possession claim outright.
Section 47 Notice (Rent Demand Address)
Section 47 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1987 requires a landlord’s name and address (or that of an agent in England and Wales) to appear on every rent demand for a residential property. If the demand omits this, no rent is legally due until a Section 48 notice (or compliant rent demand) is served. Routinely missed by individual landlords self-managing without a template; the breach blocks rent recovery and pauses any Section 8 ground 8/10/11 arrears clock until cured.
Section 48 Notice (Landlord’s Address for Service)
Section 48 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1987 requires a landlord of a residential dwelling in England or Wales to give the tenant a written address in England or Wales at which notices can be served. Until a compliant address is given, no rent is legally due. A common cure for an overseas landlord is to use the letting agent’s UK address (with the agent’s consent), but the address must be the landlord’s address for service, not a generic correspondence address.