Skip to main content
OBL-008 Landlord obligations · England

Rent Increase Notice (Form 4A) — landlord obligations in England

If you want to increase the rent for an assured periodic tenancy, you must serve a valid notice using Form 4A. You can only increase rent once every 12 months, and the notice period must be at least 2 months. This applies to notices served on or after 1 May 2026.

Obligation OBL-008 Last reviewed: June 2026 England
Form 4A rent increase notice for assured periodic tenancies in England from 1 May 2026
All landlords under assured periodic tenancies in England. Photo: Unsplash (free commercial use).
Applies to
All landlords under assured periodic tenancies in England.
Evidence
Documentary evidence required
Jurisdiction
England
Statutory basis

The law that creates this obligation

Primary instrument
Housing Act 1988 s.13(2) as amended by RRA 2025 s.6; SI 2026/354
What the law requires

Your obligations as a landlord

  • Who this applies to: All landlords under assured periodic tenancies in England.
  • When it applies: When seeking to increase rent, and not more than once in 12 months.
  • What you must do: Serve a Form 4A notice with the correct notice period and keep a record of service.
Evidence standard

What good evidence looks like

Your compliance file should contain

  • Written record or document confirming this obligation has been met
  • Date of compliance — email timestamp, signed receipt, or platform log
  • Trigger: 12 months after last increase. Remind 30 days before notice period ends.
Workspace task: Upload Form 4A notice
Upload a copy of the Form 4A served on the tenant and record of service date.

Record this obligation in your LettingsLedger workspace

Upload evidence, set reminders, and build a timestamped compliance record — all in one place.

Failure and enforcement

Consequences of non-compliance

What happens if you do not comply

The rent increase is void and the tenant can refer the matter to a tribunal.

LL
LettingsLedger editorial team
Verified against legislation.gov.uk and official GOV.UK guidance
Related guides

Further reading for landlords

LettingsLedger is a compliance evidence governance platform. It is not a legal services provider and does not provide legal advice. Content is derived from UK primary legislation at legislation.gov.uk and official GOV.UK sources. Reflects the position as at June 2026. A GovProtocol product by Pertheo Limited.