Eric had been renting out his property to the same tenant for five years under a fixed-term agreement. Each year, he typically reviewed and adjusted the rent. As the current agreement neared renewal, Eric planned to increase the rent and notified his tenants one month before the new contract was due to start.
However, Eric was aware that new rental regulations had come into effect on 1st April 2025 and wasn’t sure how they affected his plans. To get clarity, he contacted Landlord Advice.
Our adviser explained that under the new rules from 1 April 2025, landlords must now give at least 3 months' notice before increasing rent. Any rent increase must be communicated using a Notice of Variation—a formal document available through the Department for Communities' website. Importantly, rent can only be increased once in a 12-month period and not before the end of the current fixed-term agreement.
Even when signing a new tenancy agreement with existing tenants, the three-month notice period still applies. In Eric’s case, he would need to issue the Notice of Variation and ensure the rent increase would only take effect after the three-month notice period had passed.