Rent increase application struck out date error

PCM means per calendar month. Non-monthly rents are converted to monthly equivalents for comparison. The assessed market rent can exceed the landlord’s proposal. New Rent is the payable amount after any statutory cap. A strike-out is not a rent determination; a new rent shown for a struck-out case is the rent the parties agreed, not a figure set by the tribunal.

Landlord’s position and arguments

The landlord served a notice of increase dated 14 May 2026 proposing to increase the rent from £2,000 to £3,000 per month with effect from 15 July 2026. No written representations were received from the landlord in connection with the application.

Tenant’s position and arguments

The tenant referred the notice to the tribunal and argued that the notice might not be legally valid, including because it did not appear to take effect at the commencement of a new period of the tenancy or an agreed rent payment date.

Tribunal reasoning and decision

The tribunal considered a notice proposing a new rent from 15 July 2026 when the tenancy period began on the 1st of the month. It held that it lacked jurisdiction to determine the validity dispute and struck out the application under rule 9(2)(a). It stated that the proposed rent was not payable unless the County Court determined the notice valid, while making clear that validity was ultimately a matter for that court. It also noted that the landlord could serve a further notice. No new rent was determined.

Original sources

• Read the decision on GOV.UK
• Tribunal document 1 (PDF)