Blog
Expert guides on tenant rights, rent increases, and the Section 13 process in England.
Tribunal evidence bundle: what to include and what to leave out
Your evidence bundle is the single most important thing you prepare for a First-tier Tribunal rent challenge. Here is exactly what belongs in it, what to leave out, and how to present comparables in a table the panel can read.
How to read a rent increase notice: a 5-minute walkthrough for tenants
A calm, field-by-field walkthrough of a Section 13 rent increase notice in under 5 minutes. Covers Form 4 (before 1 May 2026) and Form 4A (from 1 May 2026) and the first 72 hours after a notice arrives.
Every ground to challenge a rent increase: the tenant checklist
A complete checklist of every ground you might have to challenge a rent increase in England. Twelve grounds across procedural, market rent, property, and contextual categories. Any single one is enough.
After your rent tribunal decision: what happens next for tenants in England
What happens after your First-tier Tribunal decision on a Section 13 rent increase. When the new rent takes effect, whether backdating applies, appeal routes, and how the Renters' Rights Act 2025 changes the outcome from 1 May 2026.
Form 4A explained: the new rent increase notice landlords must use from 1 May 2026
From 1 May 2026 landlords in England must use Form 4A for Section 13 rent increases - not Form 4. This guide explains what Form 4A is, what changed, what a valid notice must contain, and what to do in the first 72 hours.
Section 13 notice deadlines: your timeline from notice to decision
Every Section 13 challenge has a clock attached. Here is exactly how long you have at each step — from the day a notice drops through your door to the day the tribunal decides.
Writing a counter-offer letter to your landlord: rent negotiation made simple
Before you go to tribunal, try a counter-offer. A calm, well-evidenced letter resolves more rent disputes than any formal process. Here is exactly how to write one.
How to prepare for a rent tribunal hearing: a tenant's guide
If you have applied to the First-tier Tribunal to challenge a rent increase, this is how to prepare for the hearing itself. What happens, what to bring, and the common tenant mistakes to avoid.
Understanding the Market Rent Comparison in Your Rent Challenge
Learn how market rent comparisons work when challenging a rent increase, how to find comparable properties, and what the tribunal considers.
How Landlords Calculate Rent Increases (and Why Many Get It Wrong)
Find out how landlords should calculate rent increases under Section 13, the common mistakes they make, and how to spot an unfair increase.