From 1 May 2026, Section 13 becomes the only way to increase rent on Assured Tenancies.

Before 1 May, if your tenancy includes a rent review clause, you should continue to follow that. You can still use the current Section 13 process where appropriate.

After 1 May, rent review clauses in existing ASTs will no longer apply in the same way, and Section 13 will be the only way to increase rent to market rate.

You can manage this directly in the Goodlord platform within each tenancy. Visit the Agent Hub for short training videos.

This depends on your tenancy. If there is a rent review clause, you should follow that before 1 May. After 1 May, Section 13 becomes the route for rent increases.

If your increase overlaps the transition, review the tenancy wording and timing carefully before proceeding.

It currently requires one month’s notice. From 1 May 2026, this will change to two months’ notice. You will need to start the process earlier than you would for renewals today.

Yes. If you are sending a Section 13 notice by email, you must have the tenant’s consent to receive documents electronically. This consent is not about agreeing to the rent increase. It relates specifically to how tenancy documents and notices are served.

For Goodlord tenancies, this consent is already collected during sign-up. For older or external tenancies, you should ensure you have consent in writing.

If you do not have consent, you should also send the notice by post.

You can check consent in Goodlord via the preferences section on the tenancy or within the signed tenancy documents.

No. A Section 13 notice is served, not signed.

Goodlord provides an audit trail showing who created the notice, who signed it on the agent side, and when it was sent. You can also view the email in the tenant email log.

You do not have to, but it is recommended. Speaking to the tenant first can help you gauge their response, reduce the likelihood of disputes or tribunal cases, and support smoother negotiations.

You should not issue a new Section 13.

Instead, Goodlord provides a revised rent proposal flow. This allows you to agree a lower amount with the tenant, send a revised agreement for signature, and keep the original Section 13 in place for timing.

If the revised agreement is not signed by the deadline, the rent will default back to the original Section 13 amount.

Yes. All tenants must sign for it to take effect. This provides a clear record of agreement and strengthens your position if the rent is later challenged.

Goodlord has taken legal advice on this process. The revised agreement sits alongside the Section 13 notice as supporting evidence.

If the notice has been served correctly and the tenant does not respond, the new rent will take effect from the date outlined in the Section 13 notice.

If the tenant wants to challenge the increase, they would need to refer it to the tribunal.

From 1 May, the tribunal can set a rent that is lower or the same, but not higher. Any increase is not backdated, and tenants may request delays due to hardship.

In addition, with the removal of Section 21, agents cannot end a tenancy simply because a tenant does not agree to a rent increase. This may make tenants feel more confident in challenging increases.

As a result, tenants are more likely to refer cases to tribunal. This makes strong documentation, clear negotiation, and reliable evidence more important than ever.

Yes.

Goodlord is developing market rent reports to support rent assessments, landlord conversations, tenant transparency, and tribunal preparation. These reports will include advertised rents, agreed rents, currently paid rents, regional and national data, and downloadable reports for sharing.

They are designed to support decision-making, not replace local market knowledge.

Yes. You can add external tenancies into Goodlord and use the same workflow. You will need to enter the original tenancy dates, rent details, tenant details, and guarantor details if applicable.

Once added, the tenancy can use the rent review functionality.

Yes. If a guarantor is linked to the tenancy, they will receive the Section 13 notice. Revised rent agreements are not currently sent to guarantors automatically.

You do not need to include additional documents when serving the notice. However, you may choose to share supporting information, such as market rent data, to help justify the increase and support conversations with tenants. Some agents also use this opportunity to resend property certificates or updated documents.

If you already use Goodlord for renewals, there is no change to your pricing structure. Renewal transactions have become Annual Tenancy Review credits, which can be used for Section 13.

For more details, speak to your Account Manager about package options.