Rent Increase — Tribunal Determination — landlord obligations in England
When you propose a rent increase using Form 4A, your tenant has the right to refer it to the First-tier Tribunal before it takes effect. The tribunal will determine a market rent for the property. If the tribunal sets a rent lower than you proposed, that determined rent becomes the maximum you can charge. You cannot serve another rent increase notice until 12 months after the tribunal determination.
The law that creates this obligation
Your obligations as a landlord
- Who this applies to: All landlords of assured periodic tenancies who propose a rent increase.
- When it applies: When a tenant refers a Form 4A rent increase notice to the First-tier Tribunal.
- What you must do: Do not charge more than the rent determined by the tribunal. Keep a record of the tribunal determination and the date from which the determined rent applies.
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
- Set a reminder 12 months after the tribunal determination date — the earliest a new Form 4A notice can be served.
Upload the tribunal determination and record the determined rent and the date from which it applies.
Record this obligation in your LettingsLedger workspace
Upload evidence, set reminders, and build a timestamped compliance record — all in one place.
Consequences of non-compliance
Charging more than the tribunal-determined rent is unlawful. The tenant can apply to the tribunal to recover any excess rent paid.
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.