Section 13 — Increases of rent under assured periodic tenancies tenancies other than relevant low-cost tenancies.

(1) This section applies to—

(a) a statutory periodic tenancy other than one which, by virtue of paragraph 11 or paragraph 12 in Part I of Schedule 1 to this Act, cannot for the time being be an assured tenancy; and

(b) any other periodic tenancy which is an assured tenancy, other than one in relation to which there is a provision, for the time being binding on the tenant, under which the rent for a particular period of the tenancy will or may be greater than the rent for an earlier period.

(1) [F1 This section applies to any assured tenancy other than a relevant low-cost tenancy.]

(2) For the purpose of securing an increase in the rent under a tenancy to which this section applies, the landlord may serve on the tenant a notice in the prescribed form proposing a new rent to take effect at the beginning of a new period of the tenancy specified in the notice, being a period beginning not earlier than—

(a) the minimum period [F2 two months] after the date of the service of the notice; and

(b) except in the case of a statutory periodic [F3 tenancy— [F4 either]]

(i) [F3 in the case of an assured agricultural occupancy, the first anniversary of the date on which the first period of the tenancy began; [F5 or]]

(ii) [F3 in any other case, on the date that falls 52 weeks after the date on which the first period of the tenancy began; and]

(c) if the rent under the tenancy has previously been increased by virtue of a notice under this subsection or a determination under section 14 [F6 below [F7 , either] —]

(i) [F6 in the case of an assured agricultural occupancy, the first anniversary of the date on which the increased rent took effect; [F8 or]]

(ii) [F6 in any other case, the appropriate date]

(3) The minimum period referred to in subsection (2) above is—

(a) in the case of a yearly tenancy, six months;

(b) in the case of a tenancy where the period is less than a month, one month; and

(c) in any other case, a period equal to the period of the tenancy.

(3A) [F9 The appropriate date referred to in subsection (2)(c)(ii) above is—]

(a) [F9 in a case to which subsection (3B) below applies, the date that falls 53 weeks after the date on which the increased rent took effect;]

(b) [F9 in any other case, the date that falls 52 weeks after the date on which the increased rent took effect.]

(3B) [F9 This subsection applies where—]

(a) [F9 the rent under the tenancy has been increased by virtue of a notice under this section or a determination under section 14 below on at least one occasion after the coming into force of the Regulatory Reform (Assured Periodic Tenancies)(Rent Increases) Order 2003; and]

(b) [F9 the fifty-third week after the date on which the last such increase took effect begins more than six days before the anniversary of the date on which the first such increase took effect.]

(4) Where a notice is served under subsection (2) above, a new rent specified in the notice shall take effect as mentioned in the notice unless, before the beginning of the new period specified in the notice,—

(a) the tenant by an application in the prescribed form refers the notice to [F10 the appropriate tribunal] [F11 applies to the appropriate tribunal under section 14(A3)]; or

(b) the landlord and the tenant agree on a variation of the rent which is different from [F12 new rent which is lower than] that proposed in the notice or agree that the rent should not be varied.

(4A) [F13 The rent for a period of an assured tenancy to which this section applies may not be greater than the rent for the previous period except by virtue of—]

(a) [F13 a notice under this section or an agreement under subsection (4)(b) following such a notice,]

(b) [F13 a determination under section 14, or]

(c) [F13 an agreement in writing between the landlord and the tenant varying the rent, following a determination by the appropriate tribunal under section 14, where the agreed rent is lower than the rent that would be payable under section 14ZA or 14ZB as a result of the determination;]

[F13 and any provision relating to an assured tenancy to which this section applies is of no effect so far as it provides that the rent for a particular period of the tenancy must or may be greater than the rent for the previous period otherwise than by virtue of a notice, determination or agreement mentioned in this subsection.]

(4B) [F13 Except as provided by subsection (4A), nothing in this section (or in sections 14 to 14ZB) limits any right of the landlord and the tenant under an assured tenancy to which this section applies to vary any term of the tenancy by agreement.]

(4C) [F13 In this section “relevant low-cost tenancy” means—]

(a) [F13 an assured tenancy of social housing, within the meaning of Part 2 of the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008, where the landlord is a private registered provider of social housing, and]

(b) [F13 any other assured tenancy of a description specified in regulations made by the Secretary of State.]

(4D) [F13 Regulations under subsection (4C)(b)—]

(a) [F13 may make different provision for different purposes;]

(b) [F13 are to be made by statutory instrument.]

(4E) [F13 A statutory instrument containing regulations under subsection (4C)(b) is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.]

(5) Nothing in this section (or in section 14 below) affects the right of the landlord and the tenant under an assured tenancy to vary by agreement any term of the tenancy (including a term relating to rent).

Amendment notes

1. F1 S. 13(1) substituted (1.5.2026 for specified purposes) by Renters’ Rights Act 2025 (c. 26), ss. 6(3), 145(1)(8) (with ss. 138, 146(1), 147(1)(2), Sch. 6 paras. 1, 3, 4, 6, 16, 17); S.I. 2026/421, reg. 2(a)
2. F2 Words in s. 13(2)(a) substituted (1.5.2026 for specified purposes) by Renters’ Rights Act 2025 (c. 26), ss. 6(4)(a), 145(1)(8) (with ss. 138, 146(1), 147(1)(2), Sch. 6 paras. 1, 3, 4, 6, 16, 17); S.I. 2026/421, reg. 2(a) (with reg. 7)
3. F3 Words in s. 13(2)(b) substituted (11.2.2003) by The Regulatory Reform (Assured Periodic Tenancies) (Rent Increases) Order 2003 (S.I. 2003/259), art. 2(a)(i)
4. F4 Word in s. 13(2)(b) substituted (1.5.2026 for specified purposes) by Renters’ Rights Act 2025 (c. 26), ss. 6(4)(b)(i), 145(1)(8) (with ss. 138, 146(1), 147(1)(2), Sch. 6 paras. 1, 3, 4, 6, 16, 17); S.I. 2026/421, reg. 2(a) (with reg. 7)
5. F5 Word in s. 13(2)(b) inserted (1.5.2026 for specified purposes) by Renters’ Rights Act 2025 (c. 26), ss. 6(4)(b)(ii), 145(1)(8) (with ss. 138, 146(1), 147(1)(2), Sch. 6 paras. 1, 3, 4, 6, 16, 17); S.I. 2026/421, reg. 2(a) (with reg. 7)
6. F6 Words in s. 13(2)(c) substituted (11.2.2003) by The Regulatory Reform (Assured Periodic Tenancies) (Rent Increases) Order 2003 (S.I. 2003/259), art. 2(a)(ii)
7. F7 Word in s. 13(2)(c) inserted (1.5.2026 for specified purposes) by Renters’ Rights Act 2025 (c. 26), ss. 6(4)(c)(i), 145(1)(8) (with ss. 138, 146(1), 147(1)(2), Sch. 6 paras. 1, 3, 4, 6, 16, 17); S.I. 2026/421, reg. 2(a) (with reg. 7)
8. F8 Word in s. 13(2)(c) inserted (1.5.2026 for specified purposes) by Renters’ Rights Act 2025 (c. 26), ss. 6(4)(c)(ii), 145(1)(8) (with ss. 138, 146(1), 147(1)(2), Sch. 6 paras. 1, 3, 4, 6, 16, 17); S.I. 2026/421, reg. 2(a) (with reg. 7)
9. F9 S. 13(3A)(3B) inserted (11.2.2003) by The Regulatory Reform (Assured Periodic Tenancies) (Rent Increases) Order 2003 (S.I. 2003/259), art. 2(b)
10. F10 Words in s. 13(4)(a) substituted (1.7.2013) by The Transfer of Tribunal Functions Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/1036), art. 1, Sch. 1 para. 82 (with Sch. 3)
11. F11 Words in s. 13(4)(a) substituted (1.5.2026 for specified purposes) by Renters’ Rights Act 2025 (c. 26), ss. 6(6)(a), 145(1)(8) (with ss. 138, 146(1), 147(1)(2), Sch. 6 paras. 1, 3, 4, 6, 16, 17); S.I. 2026/421, reg. 2(a) (with reg. 8)
12. F12 Words in s. 13(4)(b) substituted (1.5.2026 for specified purposes) by Renters’ Rights Act 2025 (c. 26), ss. 6(6)(b), 145(1)(8) (with ss. 138, 146(1), 147(1)(2), Sch. 6 paras. 1, 3, 4, 6, 16, 17); S.I. 2026/421, reg. 2(a) (with reg. 8)
13. F13 S. 13(4A)-(4E) inserted (1.5.2026 for specified purposes) by Renters’ Rights Act 2025 (c. 26), ss. 6(7), 145(1)(8) (with ss. 138, 146(1), 147(1)(2), Sch. 6 paras. 1, 3, 4, 6, 16, 17); S.I. 2026/421, reg. 2(a) (with reg. 8)