Rent increases for private tenants
The law has changed
The Renters' Rights Act means:
your rent can only go up once a year
you cannot be evicted for challenging a rent increase
These changes started from 1 May 2026.
Tenancy agreements with a rent review clause
Your tenancy agreement might have a clause that says the rent can go up. For example, each year in April.
From 1 May 2026 your rent cannot go up because of a rent review clause.
The new law means your rent can only go up once a year with a section 13 notice.
More on tenancy agreements from before the Renters' Rights Act.
What if your landlord told you about the rent increase before 1 May?
Check the email or letter from your landlord for what date the increase starts from.
Your rent will not go up if this date is on or after 1 May 2026.
Example: when rent could go up with a rent review clause
Nick's tenancy started on 1 February 2025.
His tenancy agreement says that the landlord will:
review the rent in February each year
give the tenant at least 1 month's notice of a rent increase
Nick's landlord wrote to him in February 2026. They said that the rent would go up from 1 April 2026.
Nick had to pay the new rent because the increase started before 1 May 2026 and his landlord gave enough notice.
Example: when a rent review clause cannot be used
Lara's tenancy started on 15 November 2025.
Her tenancy agreement says that the landlord will:
raise the rent from 15 May 2026
give 1 month's notice of the new amount in April
Lara's landlord writes to her in early April to say the rent will go up from 15 May 2026.
Lara does not have to pay the new rent.
Lara did not mention this to her landlord in April because she was worried about eviction.
On 1 May 2026, Lara's tenancy turned into an assured tenancy. Her landlord cannot give her a section 21 notice from this date.
Lara tells her landlord she will not pay the rent increase because the law has changed.
If Lara's landlord wants to increase the rent they can give her a section 13 notice. The earliest date her rent could go up is on 15 November 2026.
Last updated: 1 May 2026
