Renting out your property
Rent increases
The tenancy agreement should include how and when you’ll review the rent.
There are special rules for increasing regulated tenancy rents.
When you can increase rent
For a periodic tenancy (rolling on a week-by-week or month-by-month basis) you can usually only increase the rent once a year.
For a fixed-term tenancy (running for a set period) you can only increase the rent if your tenancy agreement permits this. Otherwise, you can only raise the rent when the fixed term ends.
How you can increase the rent
If a fixed-term tenancy agreement says how the rent can be increased, you must stick to this.
For a periodic tenancy, you can:
- agree a rent increase with your tenants and produce a written record of the agreement that you both sign
- complete Form 4: Landlord’s notice proposing a new rent, giving your tenant at least a month’s notice
There are different rules for increasing rent in Scotland and increasing rent in Northern Ireland.
The rent increase must be fair and realistic - that is, in line with reasonable rents on the open market.
If your tenants do not agree
If your tenants think the rent increase is unfair, they can ask the First Tier Property Tribunal to decide the right amount.