Rent increases for private tenants

Increases in a fixed term tenancy

Many private renters sign up for a fixed term tenancy. For example, 6 or 12 months.

Your rent can only go up during your fixed term if you:

agree to a new rent
sign a new agreement
have a rent review clause in your contract

Rent review clauses are more common in fixed term tenancies of more than 12 months.

If your landlord asks you to agree to a new rent

Your landlord may tell you the rent is going up without giving you a formal notice. For example, they might phone or message you.

Your rent will only go up if you agree to it.

If you pay the new amount, it legally becomes your rent even if you're not happy about it.

Make sure you get it in writing if you agree to the new rent.

You do not have to agree to a rent increase during a fixed term tenancy.

But your landlord could give you a section 21 notice if there's a break clause.

If you have a rent review clause

Some tenancies have a rent review clause.

This is a term in your contract that says how the rent can be increased.

The clause might be quite general and say something like: "the landlord will review the rent in April each year and give the tenant 1 month's notice of any increase".

Or it could be more specific and say something like: "the rent will increase each April in line with the Retail Price Index (RPI)".

A rent review clause will not usually apply after a fixed term contract ends.

It will apply if the agreement says the tenancy continues as a contractual periodic tenancy after the fixed term.

If you do not have a rent review clause

Use this letter template to tell your landlord that they cannot increase your rent.

[Use subject: Rent increase during my fixed term]

You contacted me on [date] to say you want to increase my monthly rent from £xxx to £xxx.

I am only xx months into my fixed term tenancy. There is no rent review clause in my tenancy agreement, so my rent cannot be increased at this time.

I do not plan to sign an agreement to increase the rent at this stage in the tenancy. This means my rent stays at £xxx.

Signing a new agreement

You do not have to agree to a new tenancy.

Check you are happy with all the terms before you sign anything.

Do not assume everything is the same as your last contract.

If you sign a new agreement, it replaces your existing tenancy from the date the new agreement starts. It's sometimes called a replacement tenancy.

If your fixed term tenancy ends soon

Many landlords offer replacement tenancies towards the end of a fixed term tenancy.

They may want you to pay more rent.

If you do not sign or agree a higher rent, your tenancy continues when the fixed term ends unless you leave by the last day of the fixed term.

If you choose to stay

If you do not sign a new contract or agree a higher rent, your rent stays the same unless your landlord gives you a legal rent increase notice.

This is called a section 13 notice. Your landlord can give you this notice during a fixed term tenancy but your rent will only go up when the fixed term has ended.

Pressure to agree to a rent increase

It could be harassment if your landlord or letting agent pressures you to agree to an increase.

It will be an illegal eviction if they make you leave because you won't agree to an increase. Your landlord must follow the legal process if they want to end your tenancy.

Show your landlord our advice on your tenancy rights if they say you must sign a new agreement with a higher rent when your fixed term ends and you don't want to.

Copy this template into an email or message to your landlord or agent.

[Use subject: Proposed new tenancy at a higher rent]

You contacted me on [date] to say I must move out when my fixed term tenancy ends unless I sign a new tenancy with a higher monthly rent of £xxx.

I have looked into my tenancy rights.

My tenancy becomes periodic if I do not sign a new agreement when my fixed term contract ends.

I do not plan to sign a new agreement. This means my rent stays at £xxx.

It could be illegal eviction if you try to force me to leave without following the legal process. The Protection from Eviction Act 1977 defines this as a criminal offence.

[Add any other information you want to]