Section 13 Notice Template (Form 4)

What is a Section 13 notice?

A Section 13 notice is the legal method for landlords to increase rent on periodic assured shorthold tenancies (ASTs). Named after Section 13 of the Housing Act 1988, this prescribed form notifies tenants of your proposed rent increase and their right to challenge it through a tribunal.

You must use Form 4 if your tenant is on a periodic tenancy (rolling month-to-month or week-to-week after the fixed term ended). You cannot use Section 13 during a fixed-term tenancy unless the tenancy agreement specifically allows rent reviews.

For a detailed walkthrough of the entire Section 13 rent increase process, see our complete Section 13 rent increase guide. If you need help understanding the Form 4 requirements, we cover every field in detail.

Download the official Form 4

The official Section 13 notice template is available as a free PDF download from the UK government website.

Download Form 4 from gov.uk

The form is also known as "Notice proposing a new rent under an Assured Periodic Tenancy of premises situated in England." For a full breakdown of what each section of the form means, see our Section 13 Form 4 guide.

Use our Section 13 Notice Generator

Our free online tool guides you through completing the Section 13 notice step-by-step, calculates the correct notice period, and generates a properly formatted notice ready to serve.

Generate Section 13 Notice

Step-by-step completion guide

Form 4 requires specific information to be valid. Here's what you need to complete:

1. Tenant name(s): Full legal names of all tenants on the tenancy agreement
2. Property address: Full address of the rented property including postcode
3. Current rent: The amount currently being paid
4. Proposed new rent: The rent you're proposing (must be reasonable market rent)
5. Rent payment period: Weekly, monthly, etc.
6. Start date: When the new rent will take effect (after the notice period)
7. Landlord details: Your name and address, or your agent's details
8. Signature and date: Sign and date the form

Common mistakes to avoid

Invalid Section 13 notices can delay your rent increase and cost you money. Here are the most common errors landlords make.

Wrong timing

• Serving during fixed term: Section 13 only works for periodic tenancies (after fixed term has ended)
• Insufficient notice: Monthly tenancies need at least one full month's notice
• Wrong start date: The new rent must start on the first day of a rental period, not mid-month

Form errors

• Using old forms: Make sure you're using the current prescribed form (Form 4)
• Missing signatures: The form must be signed and dated
• Incomplete details: All tenant names and the full property address must be included
• Wrong rent period: The rent period stated must match your actual tenancy

Serving errors

• No proof of service: Always keep evidence of when and how you served the notice
• Email without agreement: You can only serve by email if your tenancy agreement permits it
• Serving to wrong address: Serve at the rental property unless your agreement specifies otherwise

Strategic errors

• Excessive increase: Unreasonable increases are more likely to be challenged at tribunal
• No market research: Not knowing comparable local rents leaves you exposed at tribunal
• Too frequent: You can only increase rent once every 12 months via Section 13

Notice period requirements

The minimum notice period depends on your rental period:

• Monthly tenancy: Minimum 1 month's notice
• Weekly tenancy: Minimum 1 month's notice (not 1 week)
• Quarterly tenancy: Minimum 3 months' notice
• Six-monthly tenancy: Minimum 6 months' notice
• Annual tenancy: Minimum 6 months' notice

The new rent can only take effect from the first day of a new rental period. For example, if rent is due on the 1st of each month, the increase can only start on the 1st.

For more detail on calculating the correct notice period, see our rent increase notice period guide. Remember, you can only increase rent once every 12 months using Section 13.

When to use Section 13

Section 13 isn't the only way to increase rent. Understanding when to use it helps you choose the right approach.

Use Section 13 when:

• Your tenant is on a periodic (rolling) tenancy
• Your tenancy agreement doesn't have a rent review clause
• You haven't increased rent in the last 12 months
• You want a legally enforceable increase without tenant agreement

Don't use Section 13 when:

• Fixed term tenancy: Wait until it becomes periodic, or use a rent review clause if you have one
• Tenant agrees in writing: You can simply agree a new rent and document it without the formal process
• Rent review clause exists: Use the process specified in your tenancy agreement instead
• New tenancy: When signing a new tenancy, simply set the rent at the new level

Alternatives to Section 13

• Mutual agreement: Simply ask the tenant to agree to a new rent in writing - no formal notice needed
• Rent review clause: If your tenancy agreement includes a review clause, follow that process
• New fixed term: Offer a new fixed term at the higher rent when the current tenancy ends

Section 13 vs rent review clause

Understanding when to use a Section 13 notice versus a rent review clause is important. Here is how they compare:

If your tenancy agreement contains a rent review clause, you should generally follow that process rather than using Section 13. However, if the clause is unclear or doesn't work (for example, it references a fixed-term period that has ended), Section 13 is your fallback. For tenancies without a review clause, Section 13 is the only formal route to increase rent without tenant agreement.

From May 2026, the Renters' Rights Act 2025 will make Section 13 the only valid mechanism for all rent increases on periodic tenancies, overriding any rent review clauses.

Renters' Rights Act 2025: how Section 13 is changing

The Renters' Rights Act 2025 introduces major changes to how landlords can increase rent. From 1 May 2026, Section 13 becomes significantly more important.

All tenancies become periodic

Fixed-term tenancies are abolished. Every assured tenancy will be periodic from day one. This means you can no longer increase rent by offering a new fixed term at a higher rate. Managing periodic tenancies becomes essential for every landlord.

Section 13 becomes the only way to increase rent

With no fixed terms and rent review clauses overridden, the Section 13 notice (Form 4) becomes the sole legal mechanism for increasing rent. Every landlord managing a periodic tenancy will need to be familiar with this process.

Minimum 2 months' notice

The minimum notice period for rent increases rises to 2 months for all tenancies (up from 1 month for monthly periodic tenancies currently). This applies regardless of the rental payment period.

Once per year only

Rent increases are limited to once every 12 months. This is already the case under Section 13, but will now apply universally with no workarounds via new fixed terms.

What landlords should do now

• Familiarise yourself with the Section 13 process if you have been using rent review clauses or new fixed terms
• Plan rent increases before May 2026 if you want to use the current 1-month notice period
• Research market rents now so you have evidence if a tenant challenges your increase at tribunal
• Use our free Section 13 Notice Generator to create compliant notices

How to serve the notice

You can serve a Section 13 notice by:

• Hand delivery: Give it directly to the tenant and note the date
• First class post: Add 2 working days for deemed delivery
• Email: Only if your tenancy agreement allows service by email
• Leaving at property: Leave it at the property or put through the letterbox

Keep proof of service - a dated copy of the notice and a record of how and when you served it. For detailed service guidance, see how to serve a Section 13 notice.

What happens after serving

After you serve the Section 13 notice, your tenant has three options:

1. Accept the increase: The new rent applies from the date stated in the notice
2. Negotiate: You can agree a different amount outside the Section 13 process
3. Challenge at tribunal: The tenant can refer the notice to a First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) before the new rent date. The tribunal will determine a fair market rent, which could be higher, lower, or the same as your proposal

If the tenant does nothing, the new rent automatically applies from the date stated. You don't need to get written agreement. Learn more about what happens when a tenant challenges a rent increase at tribunal.