Section 13 Form 4: The Official Rent Increase Notice

What is Form 4?

Form 4, officially titled "Landlord's notice proposing a new rent under an assured periodic tenancy of premises situated in England", is the government-prescribed form for Section 13 rent increases. It replaced the older Form 4A and is mandatory for all Section 13 notices served after 1 October 2015. Using any other format will make your rent increase invalid.

When must you use Form 4?

You must use Form 4 when:

• The tenancy is an assured or assured shorthold periodic tenancy
• There is no rent review clause in the tenancy agreement (or you choose not to use it)
• The property is in England (Wales has a different form)
• At least 12 months have passed since the last rent increase or start of tenancy

You cannot use Form 4 for fixed-term tenancies, regulated tenancies, or properties in Wales.

How to complete Form 4 step by step

Follow these steps to complete Form 4 correctly:

1. Part 1 - Property address: Enter the full address of the rental property exactly as it appears on the tenancy agreement
2. Part 2 - Tenant names: List all tenants named on the tenancy agreement. Missing a tenant can invalidate the notice
3. Part 3 - Landlord details: Your full name and address. If using an agent, include their details too
4. Part 4 - Current rent: State the exact current rent amount and payment frequency
5. Part 5 - New rent: State the proposed new rent amount. This takes effect from the date in Part 6
6. Part 6 - Start date: The date the new rent begins. Must allow the correct notice period
7. Part 7 - Signature and date: Sign and date the form. Keep a copy for your records

Common mistakes to avoid

These errors will invalidate your Form 4 notice:

• Wrong notice period: Monthly tenancies need at least 1 month's notice. Yearly tenancies need 6 months
• Missing tenants: Every tenant on the original agreement must be named
• Wrong form version: Using an outdated form or wrong country's form (England vs Wales)
• Incorrect start date: The new rent date must be the first day of a rental period
• Too frequent increases: You can only increase rent once every 12 months
• No signature: The form must be signed by the landlord or their authorised agent

How to serve Form 4

You can serve Form 4 by:

• Hand delivery: Give it directly to the tenant and note the date
• First class post: Allow 2 working days for deemed delivery
• Recorded delivery: Recommended for proof of delivery
• Email: Only if your tenancy agreement specifically allows electronic service

Keep proof of service. If the tenant disputes receiving the notice, you need evidence it was properly served.

What happens after serving Form 4?

After you serve the notice:

• The tenant can accept the increase and pay the new rent from the specified date
• The tenant can refer the increase to a First-tier Tribunal within the notice period
• If referred, the tribunal sets a market rent - which could be higher or lower than you proposed
• If no tribunal referral, the new rent automatically takes effect on the start date