Blog
Expert guides on tenant rights, rent increases, and the Section 13 process in England.
What the rent tribunal actually measures: market rent and the £47 decision maths
The First-tier Tribunal measures one thing: today's open market rent for your property. Here is what that means in practice, how to assemble the comparables that match, and the £47 decision maths from 1 May 2026.
Form 4A errors tenants can use to invalidate a rent increase (from 1 May 2026)
From 1 May 2026, every landlord in England serving a rent increase under Section 13 must use Form 4A. Not Form 4 — that's the old version, which applies to notices served before 1 May. Not an email. Not a letter on headed paper. Not a polit
The GBP 47 tribunal fee from 1 May 2026: the decision tool for tenants
On 23 March 2026, the Ministry of Justice confirmed the fee for applying to a rent tribunal: GBP 47. From 1 May 2026, any tenant in England facing a Section 13 rent increase can challenge it for that single flat fee. There is no additional
Section 13 notice with the wrong tenancy type: when it's a knockout defect (and when it isn't)
If you've just opened a Section 13 notice and something about it feels off — the tenancy it describes doesn't match the one you actually have — trust that instinct. Tenancy type sits at the very heart of Section 13. Get it wrong, and the no
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.
How to Prepare Evidence for a Rent Tribunal Hearing
The evidence you present to the First-tier Tribunal can make or break your case. This guide explains exactly what to gather, how to present it, and what mistakes to avoid.
Energy Efficiency and Rent Increases: How Your Property's EPC Rating Matters
Your property's energy efficiency rating is not just about bills. If your landlord is proposing a rent increase on a property with a poor EPC, you may have genuine leverage to challenge it.
Section 8 vs Section 13: What Every Renter Needs to Know
Section 8 and Section 13 are both notices under the Housing Act 1988, but they do completely different things. One is about eviction, the other is about rent. Here is what you need to know about each.