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Apply to Challenge Your Rent Increase

Upload your rent increase notice to pre-fill the Rents 1 tribunal application, or enter details manually — ready to download and submit.

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Start with your rent increase notice

Upload a photo or PDF and we will pre-fill the tribunal application where we can. If you prefer not to upload here, you can enter everything yourself — you will still attach your notice when you email the tribunal.

Get started

Upload your Form 4A rent increase notice (the statutory notice under Section 13) below to pre-fill the form, or choose to enter details manually. Download and submit before the effective date on your notice.

What this tool does

Use this tool to generate a pre-filled Rents 1 application — the form tenants in England submit to the First-tier Tribunal to challenge a rent increase under the Renters' Rights Act 2025. Rents 1 was previously called Form 6; the new name applies from 1 May 2026.

A single Rents 1 application can challenge both the proposed rent amount and the validity of the notice itself (Section 13B) — you don't need to choose. You must apply before the effective date on your notice.

Upload your notice and the tool pre-fills the form using your tenancy details. You download the completed form and submit it to the tribunal.

Statement of truth

The official Rents 1 form includes a statement that you believe the facts in the form are true. When you use this tool, your PDF is completed with your name and today's date in the signature section — please read the form carefully before you email it to the tribunal.

New tenant?

If you moved in within the last 6 months and believe your starting rent is above the open-market rate, you can also use this form to challenge it — you do not need to have received a rent increase notice. See: Can I challenge the rent I agreed to when I moved in?

What happens after you submit

The tribunal process

  1. Acknowledge receipt and issue a case reference number.
  2. Serve a copy on your landlord, who has 28 days to respond using Form Rents 1A.
  3. List the case for a hearing (paper or in-person) — typically 6–9 months from application.
  4. Issue a determination setting the rent at the open-market rate for the property.

What to pay while you wait

Continue paying your current rent — the old amount. You are not in arrears for doing so. The proposed new rent does not take effect while a tribunal application is pending. Your landlord cannot treat you as being in rent arrears during the dispute period.

Once the tribunal issues its determination, the new rent takes effect from the first rental period after the determination. There is no backdating for the period while your application was pending.

Hardship deferral

If the tribunal sets a new rent that would cause you financial hardship, you can ask for a hardship deferral — the new figure applies up to 2 months later than the tribunal's stated date. Ask for this at the hearing or in writing beforehand.

Frequently asked questions

Can the tribunal set my rent higher than the landlord asked?
No. The tribunal is capped at the figure in the notice. The worst outcome is that the tribunal confirms the landlord's proposed amount. It cannot go higher.
How long will the process take?
Cases going to an oral hearing typically take 6 to 9 months from application to determination, though timing may lengthen after 1 May 2026 as caseloads increase.
Do I need a lawyer?
No. The tribunal is designed to be accessible without legal representation. Most tenants represent themselves. Bring evidence of comparable rents in your area.
What if I want to withdraw my application?
You can withdraw at any time before the determination. Withdrawal often follows a negotiated rent agreement with your landlord. There is no penalty for withdrawing.

Sources

Official materials and primary sources used to review this tool.

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