The Rules on Rent Increases

Whether or not your landlord can increase your rent all depends on your tenancy agreement - and more specifically, if it states how exactly long you are staying in the property.

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If your tenancy agreement states how long you are staying in the property…

If your tenancy agreement states how long you are staying in the property, then you have what is known as a ‘fixed-term tenancy’ - and your landlord cannot increase your rent for this fixed period of time, unless you agree. If you don’t agree, your rent may only be increased after the end of the period.

This is because, whether you rented a flat for two years or a holiday home for two weeks, your rent is fixed in your tenancy agreement from the moment you move in to the moment your tenancy agreement ends. To change this agreement, your landlord requires your consent.

When can your landlord increase the rent during a fixed-term tenancy?

There is an important exception here, though. If there’s a clause in your tenancy agreement which sets out how, when and by how much your landlord will increase your rent, then your landlord is still allowed to increase your rent during your fixed period of tenancy.

If your tenancy agreement does not state how long you are staying in the property…

If your tenancy agreement does not state how long you are staying in the property, then you have what is called a ‘statutory tenancy’ - which means that your landlord can increase your rent.

However, landlords cannot just increase your rent whenever and however they want; there are important rules that they must strictly follow. As explained on the relevant page on the government website, “your landlord cannot normally increase the rent more than once a year without your agreement.”

Your landlord always needs your permission to increase the rent

Furthermore, for any tenancy, “your landlord must get your permission if they want to increase the rent by more than previously agreed”. When any rent increase is made, it must be “fair and realistic” - and this means it has to be in line with average local rents. These rules protect you from your landlord unfairly increasing your rent.

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