Blog
Expert guides on tenant rights, rent increases, and the Section 13 process in England.
Discrimination in lettings post-Renters' Rights Act: what tenants on benefits, students, and families with children can do if rejected
For more than two decades, three little letters have quietly closed doors on millions of UK renters: **DSS**. "No DSS." "No housing benefit." "Professional couples only." From 1 May 2026 — two days from now — those signs are illegal in England. The Renters' Rights Act 2025 gives tenants on benefits,
1 May 2026 day one: the tenant phone-photo-and-paperwork audit (the Renters' Rights Act morning playbook)
On Friday 1 May 2026, every assured shorthold tenancy in England quietly converts into an assured periodic tenancy. You don't have to sign anything. You don't have to ring your landlord. The Renters' Rights Act 2025 does the conversion for you the moment the clock ticks past midnight on 30 April. Fr
Pet request under the Renters' Rights Act: how to send the request and what 'reasonable' refusal really means
From 1 May 2026 you can request consent for a pet in writing. The landlord has 28 days to respond and cannot unreasonably refuse. What 'reasonable' means and what to do if refused.
Rent in advance cap from 1 May 2026: what to do if a landlord asks for 6 months upfront
From 1 May 2026 a landlord cannot ask for more than one month's rent in advance on a new tenancy. What the cap covers, what it does not, and what to do if a landlord asks for six months upfront.
Form 4 served 30 April vs Form 4A served 1 May 2026: which regime applies to you (the tenant cliff-edge guide)
The serving date — not the date typed on the form — decides which regime applies to your rent increase notice. Worked examples for the 30 April–1 May 2026 cliff edge, three response templates.
Your first month after 1 May 2026: the post-Renters Rights Act tenant orientation checklist
Everything that changes for England tenants on 1 May 2026 in one walkthrough: AST auto-conversion, the Information Sheet by 31 May, the rent-in-advance cap, the pet right, the new Form 4A regime, and what to do if your landlord serves the wrong document.
Section 8 Ground 1A: re-let monitoring and Rent Repayment Orders for tenants (post-RRA 2026 guide)
Your landlord served Ground 1A, you moved out, and now the property is back on Rightmove. The 12-month re-let restriction, evidence pack, and the RRO claim at the First-tier Tribunal -- a tenant playbook under the Renters Rights Act 2026.
Disrepair as a ground to challenge a rent increase: the evidence tenants need
Disrepair reduces the lawful market rent of a property. A tenant's guide to gathering the right evidence and using it in a Section 13 challenge in England.
Rent arrears while challenging a rent increase: your rights and how to stay safe
Fear of arrears stops many tenants challenging a rent increase. Here is the single rule that keeps you safe, plus the 2026 Renters' Rights Act change that removes backdating entirely.
How to negotiate a rent increase without going to tribunal: a tenant's guide for England
Most rent increase disputes can be resolved without a tribunal. A step-by-step guide for tenants in England: research the market, draft a counter-offer, and when to escalate.