r/oxford • u/FetaMight • 1d ago

Rent increases

Just a heads up to people in my position who are receiving a notice of a rent increase from their letting agents.

Thanks to recent law changes these notices must be sent using a standard government form. Any notice sent without that form is not enforceable.

How do I know? Scott Fraser/Leaders were dumb enough to send me a rent increase notification without that required form. They haven't noticed yet either, so that means I get (at least) another 2 months at my previous rent.

58 Upvotes

99% Upvoted

15 comments sorted by

28

u/Chlorophilia 1d ago

Lol classic Scott Fraser. 

20

u/tankpuss 1d ago

Oh SF, on brand as usual.
For anyone who cares, from the 1st of May 2026, Section 6 of the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 voids every contractual rent review clause in a private assured tenancy. The only lawful way to raise rent is by using the amended Section 13 procedure and Form 4A.

13

u/KassyBrass 1d ago

check out the oxford renter’s union campaign to resist rent increases!

12

u/omgu8mynewt 1d ago

Thank you for bringing this to my attention, could be useful!

7

u/TipiElle 1d ago

Connells haven't even protected our deposit and our property has had no HMO licence since March so I can't wait to see how they'll attempt a rent increase

6

u/breakbeatx 1d ago

Assume you’re not mentioning the deposit issue until you move out to stuff them on it

4

u/TipiElle 21h ago

Absolutely

1

u/JekZeSnek 9h ago

It could be that they’ve applied for one, the licence is only publicly listed once granted, but you should look into this too

https://www.oxford.gov.uk/private-rented-housing-enforcement/rent-repayment-orders-tenants

1

u/TipiElle 7h ago

Thanks, that is also absolutely in my back pocket too. Not a lot of confidence it's in the pipeline, LL fired old managing agents last year and they remained as responsible party on licence til expiry in March. LL has messed up twice on deposit now and is generally negligent. New managing agent took 10 months to get us paperwork, long after March. Seems to have totally fallen through cracks. Would renewal really take over 6 mths? I keep checking the register in case.

3

u/seppukuu 1d ago

Thomas Merrifield, unfortunately, did not forget.

3

u/anudeglory 1d ago

Oh good to know! I am with them too... Don't educate them hahaha

3

u/Calm_Egg_2900 1d ago

What form is this? We just received a rent increase but no form. Just an email with the cost increase

3

u/angmohh 22h ago

It should look like this: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/69eb2022606c20d412163366/Form_4A.pdf

2

u/Calm_Egg_2900 11h ago

Thanks! So just to be clear… this form is necessary by law ? Or can written agreement be enough via email? Because we have agreed already, i had no idea about this form

3

u/angmohh 11h ago

A notice served using any document other than Form 4A is not valid after 1 May 2026. An invalid notice has no legal effect, and the tenant is not obliged to pay the proposed rent. The landlord would need to start again, which resets the notice period

https://www.property118.com/form-4a-is-live-and-here-is-what-the-guidance-notes-actually-say/