Practical writing for tenants.
Tenant playbooks, market data and plain-English law explainers — the stuff you wish you had the day your rent letter arrived.
- Tenant playbook7 MIN READ11 May 2026
How to respond to a rent increase letter (with free template)
What to do in the 48 hours after your landlord proposes a rent increase — including a copy-paste reply template and the deadlines you can't miss.
Read post - Law explainer9 MIN READ11 May 2026
The Renters' Rights Act 2025, explained for tenants
The big reform to private renting in England, in plain English. What's changed, what hasn't, and what it means for you the next time your landlord proposes an increase.
Read post - Market data6 MIN READ11 May 2026
Average UK rent by region in 2026 — what the ONS data shows
Median private rent by region and city for April 2026, with the lower / median / upper quartile band you need for a Section 13 challenge. Sourced from the ONS Price Index of Private Rents.
Read post - Law explainer8 MIN READ25 May 2026
How much can a landlord increase rent in the UK in 2026?
No statutory cap, no 'X% rule' — but the Renters' Rights Act 2025 sets real procedural limits and a tribunal route that bites harder than it used to. The honest answer for England in 2026.
Read post - Law explainer7 MIN READ25 May 2026
What counts as a 'fair' rent increase?
'Fair' has no legal definition in England. Tribunals decide on local open-market rent — not inflation, not CPI. Here's how that calculation actually works, and how to apply it before your next renewal.
Read post - Tenant playbook9 MIN READ25 May 2026
How to apply to the First-tier Tribunal for a rent dispute
Step-by-step guide to challenging a Section 13 rent increase at the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) in England. Form MR1 or the gov.uk online service, no solicitor required, and under the Renters' Rights Act 2025 the tribunal can only confirm or lower the rent.
Read post - Market data8 MIN READ25 May 2026
Average rent in London 2026: a borough-by-borough guide
Median 2-bed flat rent and lower/upper quartile band for every London borough — April 2026 ONS data. Useful for negotiations and Section 13 comparisons.
Read post - Deposits6 MIN READ27 May 2026
How long does my landlord have to return my deposit?
The 10-day rule explained — what it actually means, when the clock starts, and what to do if your landlord drags their feet. Plus what 'agreed' really means under each UK deposit scheme.
Read post - Deposits7 MIN READ27 May 2026
What can a landlord legally deduct from your deposit?
Cleaning, damage, rent arrears, missing items — which deductions a UK landlord can actually take from your deposit, and which are commonly disallowed at scheme adjudication.
Read post - Deposits8 MIN READ27 May 2026
My landlord didn't protect my deposit — what now?
Unprotected deposit compensation explained. The 30-day deadline, the one-to-three-times penalty, how to bring a small-claims case in the County Court, and what the RRA 2025 changed.
Read post - Tenant playbook6 MIN READ27 May 2026
Rent reduction request letter — a free template
If your rent is above market, asking your landlord to lower it is rarely the worst move. Here's a one-page template, evidence checklist, and the lines that actually land.
Read post - Deposits5 MIN READ27 May 2026
Holding deposit vs tenancy deposit — what's the difference?
A short explainer of two payments tenants confuse all the time. What a holding deposit is, the one-week cap, when it's refundable, and how it converts (or doesn't) into your tenancy deposit.
Read post - Law explainer6 MIN READ27 May 2026
Rent increase notice period in the UK — how much notice is required?
The Renters' Rights Act 2025 set the statutory minimum notice for a Section 13 rent increase at two months. Here's the full picture — by tenancy type, by route, and what counts as 'notice' served properly.
Read post - Law explainer6 MIN READ3 Jun 2026
How often can a landlord increase rent in the UK?
Once every 12 months — and only by following the Section 13 process. The frequency rules under the Renters' Rights Act 2025, including what counts as 'a year' and what happens if your landlord tries twice.
Read post - Tenant playbook6 MIN READ3 Jun 2026
Can a new landlord raise my rent? Your rights when the property changes hands
Your tenancy survives the sale. A new landlord steps into the old one's shoes — including the Section 13 rules, the deposit, and the notice clock. What to check the day you get the email saying your landlord has changed.
Read post - Law explainer5 MIN READ3 Jun 2026
Is it legal to raise rent without notice in the UK?
No — and a Section 13 rent increase without proper notice is defective. What counts as 'notice', what an informal email isn't, and the three options open to you if your landlord tries to skip the rules.
Read post - Tenant playbook6 MIN READ12 Jun 2026
Rent tribunal near me — where your rent case is actually heard
There's no local rent court in England — one national tribunal handles every Section 13 challenge, mostly on paper. The five Property Chamber regional offices, which one covers your postcode, and why your deadline matters more than the address.
Read post - Tenant playbook8 MIN READ12 Jun 2026
What happens at a rent tribunal hearing? The process, the timeline, and the worst case
Most Section 13 challenges are decided on the papers — no courtroom, no solicitor. What the panel looks at, the stage-by-stage timeline (8–16 weeks), what a video hearing is actually like, and why the RRA 2025 capped the downside at zero.
Read post - Market data7 MIN READ3 Jun 2026
Why are UK rents going up in 2026? The ONS data and the drivers behind it
Rental price growth ran above wage growth for most of 2025. The ONS numbers for early 2026 show where the pressure is worst, what's driving it (supply, BTL exits, mortgage costs), and what it means for tenants facing renewal.
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