When can the rent actually go up?
During a fixed-term tenancy (for example, a 12-month contract), your landlord usually cannot raise the rent at all — unless the agreement contains a rent increase clause, or you agree to the rise. No clause, no rise.
Once the fixed term ends and the tenancy rolls on month to month (a "periodic" tenancy), the landlord can propose a rise using a formal notice called a section 13 notice — normally no more than once a year, with at least one month's warning.
What to check in the clause
- When rises can happen. A fair clause says rises happen at set points — for example, once every 12 months. A clause allowing rises "at any time" is a warning sign.
- How the rise is calculated. Look for a clear formula, such as a fixed percentage or a link to inflation (RPI or CPI). Vague wording like "a reasonable increase" gives the landlord too much freedom.
- Review dates. Some clauses only allow a rise on the anniversary of the tenancy. Miss that window and the landlord may have to wait another year.
- Notice required. You should get written notice — typically one to two months — before any rise takes effect.
Common traps
Automatic inflation-plus rises. Some clauses guarantee a rise every year of, say, inflation plus 2% — so your rent climbs even when local rents are flat. Do the maths over three years before signing.
Retrospective rises. A clause that backdates a rise, or charges you the difference later, is unusual and worth challenging.
Rises used to push you out. A large, sudden rise can be a way of ending a tenancy without a formal eviction. If a proposed rise is well above similar local rents, you can challenge it at the First-tier Tribunal before it takes effect.
In short
No clause means no rise during your fixed term. If there is a clause, check when rises can happen, how they are calculated, and how much notice you get. If the wording in your agreement is confusing, run it through JargonShield and see exactly what you are agreeing to before you sign.