CHOOSING THE RIGHT RENT REVIEW SERVICE

A rent increase is no longer just a number

• It's just £47 for a tenant to lodge a challenge: the logic may well be "why wouldn't they?"
• Even if your increase is successful, the increase is not backdated to your original date
• No-one knows how much load there will be on overstretched Tribunals; last year 3000 cases - this year 200,000+?
• Use the correct S13 Notice form, or the increase collapses

• THE QUESTION IS NOT SIMPLY: "WHAT RENT WOULD I LIKE TO CHARGE?"

• THE REAL QUESTION IS: "IF THIS RENT IS CHALLENGED, CAN I SHOW THAT IT IS FAIR, REALISTIC, AND PROPERLY EVIDENCED?"

Full Rent Review, Section 13, & Tribunal-Ready Service — £175

RECOMMENDED

This is the service for landlords who want the rent review handled properly from the outset, delivered to the tenant, and the tenant-facing explanation prepared professionally.

Service Options

The evidence file is organised before any challenge is made.

• What this includes

• A detailed review of the current rent and proposed rent.

• A reasoned rent recommendation.

• Local rental evidence using PriceHubble and MarketRent data

• Achieved and asking rent analysis where available.

• ONS indexed rent cross-check for the relevant area and property type.

• Review of suitable individual comparable properties.

• Tenant-facing explanation to support acceptance.

• Preparation of the Section 13 rent increase paperwork.

• A tribunal-ready evidence file, where required.

• Case handling in the First-tier Tribunal if the tenant challenges the increase (outcomes cannot be guaranteed)

Designed to avoid reconstructing evidence after the tenant has already gone to tribunal.

• What this includes

• A reasoned rent recommendation.

• Local rental evidence using PriceHubble and MarketRent data

• Achieved and asking rent analysis

• ONS indexed rent cross-check for the relevant area and property type.

• Review of comparable properties.

• Tenant-facing explanation & delivery

• It does not include full tribunal support.

• It does not include detailed case handling if the tenant challenges.

• It does not include reconstruction of further evidence after a challenge

Rent Review Evidence Pack & Section 13 Notice — £125

For landlords who want a properly evidenced proposed rent and tenant-ready explanation.

Where you want the rent reviewed professionally and the correct S13 notice prepared, but do not require the full tribunal support package at the outset.

It gives you a much stronger position than simply checking Rightmove and choosing a number.

• A detailed review of the current rent and proposed rent.

• Section 13 notice preparation.

• Does NOT include

• This service applies where:

• The tenant has challenged the rent.

• You need help understanding the evidence required.

• You want support preparing a response.

• You did not use Northwood Leicester to prepare the original rent evidence.

• It does not include attendance or formal representation unless separately agreed.

• Does not guarantee the tribunal outcome.

• It does not repair a fundamentally excessive proposed rent.

Tribunal Response Support — £125

For landlords whose tenant has already challenged a proposed rent increase

This service is for landlords who have already served a rent increase notice and now need help responding to a tenant challenge.

At this stage, the position is reactive. The rent has already been proposed, it has been challenged, and the evidence needs to be assembled after the event.

• You have already served a S13 notice.

• Does NOT include

• What this includes

• Review of the proposed rent and evidence.

• Construction of fresh evidence case

• Building of comparable rental evidence using PriceHubble, ONS, MarketRent

• Preparation support for your response.

• This service applies where:

• The case has proceeded to the FtT

Contested First-tier Tribunal case — from £350

The full reconstruction situation, cases in need of serious remedial work and FtT representation

• You have no initial preparation for a rent increase and a tenant has challenged

• What this includes

• Construction of fresh evidence case

• Representation (outcomes cannot be guaranteed)

• where Northwood did not prepare the original evidence

Why do we recommend the Tribunal-ready service?

• Most landlords will not lose rent review disputes because their proposed rent is obviously wrong.
• They lose ground because the evidence is thin, the explanation is weak, or the proposal looks arbitrary.
• The full service gives the tenant a clear, fair and professional explanation from the start.
• That matters because the first goal is not tribunal. The first goal is to avoid unnecessary dispute.
• And if the tenant does challenge, the evidence is already organised.

Cover is subject to policy terms, eligibility, exclusions and claim conditions. We will confirm the relevant HomeLet position before any recommendation is made. * Typical cost of Rent Guarantee & Legal Expenses cover for Northwood Leicester clients is £30/month

Ultra Protection- for just £1 a day*

Section 13 First Tier Tribunal cover now included for clients on our Rent Guarantee & Legal Expenses landlord insurance

Rent Guarantee: a new hidden benefit

Tenant challenges the increase?

The rent uplift will be delayed.

Landlord wins later?

The lost period hurts cashflow: no backdating

With Rent Guarantee?

HomeLet’s enhanced cover designed to protect the shortfall, subject to policy terms. Tribunal decisions in landlord's favour trigger backpay of the increase to the S13 date.

Evidence Pack + Rent Guarantee = stronger rent review, stronger income protection.

Ask us about adding Rent Guarantee protection to your rent review

Example:

Let's say you are looking to increase your rent by £75 a month

• No-one knows yet how long the First-tier Tribunal will take to consider cases
• In 2025 there were no more than 3000 rent cases heard at the FtT
• Generation Rent, acting for tenants, estimate 22% of rent increases could be challenged each year
• That could mean close to 1 million hearings per annum
• More cautious landlord groups suggest a minimum of 200,000 per annum
• The Government has not published its risk analysis, but CAPACITY is the huge risk
• Estimated hearing and conclusion timetables suggest as much as 18 months of delay

That means a £75/month rent increase could cost a landlord £1350 in pure lost rent...even if successful in the First-tier Tribunal!

Protection costs £360 per annum with Northwood Leicester's Rent Guarantee insurance, as well as providing arrears protection and legal expenses cover

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3/4 Westbridge Close

Leicester, LE3 5LW

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Northwood have over 75 locally owned offices of letting and estate agents across the UK. Our property experts are always nearby when you need a hand.

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Northwood Leicester Ltd registered in England and Wales - Registration Number 04334498 Registered Office: Dimension House, 3/4 Westbridge Close, Leicester, LE3 5LW

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