News from 18 March 2026
Read the current guide to tenancy rules in England.
Update, 7 September 2026. This report describes the guidance available in March 2026. Under England’s new assured periodic tenancy rules, the tribunal cannot set a rent above the landlord’s proposed amount. The statement below about a possible higher award describes the earlier position. Use the current landlord guidance and our England tenancy guide for present-day checks.
Updated government guidance explained how tenants could ask the property tribunal to decide the market rent after receiving a rent-increase notice. This March report concerns the earlier rules; the September correction explains the changed position.
What has changed
The updated guidance now points applicants to a live online service as well as the paper route, and it gives fuller practical detail on what the tribunal expects to see. That includes tenancy documents, the notice of increase, photos and details about the property, evidence of amenities and improvements, and comparable local rental evidence.
One of the clearest points in the guidance is also one landlords should note: tenants are told they must apply before the new rent start date shown on the notice, even if they are still collecting supporting evidence. In other words, a challenge can be lodged early and the paperwork can follow. The guidance also explains the back-and-forth process after that, including the landlord’s opportunity to respond and the tribunal’s power to determine the market rent from the evidence submitted.
The tribunal is also explicit about what it does not do. It decides the market rent. It does not decide whether the landlord’s notice of increase is legally valid. If validity is in dispute, that can still be raised, but landlords should not assume the tribunal will fix a defective notice for them.
