This section amends section 13 of the Housing Act 1988, which sets out the process by which a landlord can issue notice to inform the tenant of a rent increase. This means that the only way private landlords (except those of a "relevant low-cost tenancy") can increase the rent is by using a section 13 notice, which gives tenants the opportunity to challenge the rent (under section 14) increase, should they believe it to be above market rate. The aim of this is to stop retaliatory rent increases being used as a route to evict tenants. Assured tenancies of social housing provided by a private registered provider can include terms to increase rents in tenancy agreements, can increase the rent at any point during the first year of a tenancy, and must give one month’s notice of any rent increase.
Part 1: Tenancy reform Chapter 1: Assured Tenancies Section 6: Statutory procedure for increases of rent Background