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Form 4A — rent increase notice (free Word template)

Section 13(2) Housing Act 1988, as amended by the Renters' Rights Act 2025 s.6. Editable starting wording — fill in the bracketed fields, then review against the final GOV.UK prescribed Form 4A before serving. Two months' notice required.

Before 1 May 2026 — read this first

GOV.UK's pre-release publication of Form 4A is watermarked “must not complete or send” until 1 May 2026, when the usable prescribed version goes live. Our template is an editable draft for your preparation — once GOV.UK publishes the final usable form, verify your wording against it before serving any Form 4A notice. Tribunal applications can be rejected on form-defect grounds.

Download editable Form 4A draft (.docx)Check GOV.UK for the final usable form (from 1 May 2026) ↗

When to use this template

Form 4A is the statutory notice you must use to propose a new rent on a periodic assured tenancy. From commencement of the Renters' Rights Act 2025, every assured tenancy is periodic by default — so this is now the only valid mechanism for raising rent on existing tenancies.

Key rules to follow

  • Rent can be increased no more than once in every 52-week period (HA 1988 s.13(2)(b)(ii), as amended by RRA 2025 s.6).
  • Notice period is at least two months before the new rent takes effect.
  • The proposed rent must be the open market rent — the Tribunal will refuse increases that exceed it.
  • Tenant has the right to challenge by applying to the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber).
  • Use the same wording GOV.UK publishes — Tribunal applications can be rejected on form-defect grounds.

What's in the template

  1. Tenant + landlord party block
  2. Notice of new rent + the date it takes effect
  3. Notice period statement (≥ 2 months)
  4. Right-to-challenge text + Tribunal application instructions
  5. Frequency + open-market-rent caveat
  6. Service date + landlord signature

After serving the notice

Update the property's rent record and your readiness checklist — RentersActReady tracks the statutory 52-week cooldown (HA 1988 s.13(2)(b)(ii)) automatically and reminds you when the next increase is permissible. Run a free readiness assessment below to see your portfolio status.

Disclaimer: this template is editable starting wording aligned to statutory requirements under HA 1988 s.13 (as amended by RRA 2025 s.6), not legal advice. GOV.UK’s pre-1-May-2026 publication of Form 4A is a watermarked preview (“must not complete or send”); the usable prescribed version goes live on 1 May 2026. Verify against the final GOV.UK-published form before serving. For complex disputes, consult a qualified housing solicitor.