Q: Increasing Rent On Property Let

How do I go about increasing the rent on my property let?

A: Whether you are looking to increase your tenants rent due to inflation or simply to cope with fluctuating interest rates, as long as your tenant is at least halfway through their tenancy and their Assured Shorthold Tenancy Agreement doesn't contain a clause, you can safely increase their rent.

However, before you implement anything, you will need to bear the following in mind:

 - Is your tenants existing agreement coming to an end? If so, you will need to specify this increase in a new tenancy agreement. Now it is important to note that the shortest you can make an agreement is 6 months, so if you don't actually want to renew their tenancy, it is best not to implement this rent increase.

 - Have you given your tenant written warning of this increase? You must give your tenant due written notice of this increase so they can respond.

 - Is there a clause in their existing tenancy agreement forbidding you from increasing their rent? If you are not sure, sit down with a solicitor to check. If there is a clause, you will not be able to implement this change until their current contract expires.

As mentioned above, if you are not sure whether their tenancy agreement contains such clauses, sit down with a solicitor - before you enter into a new tenancy agreement - and review the terms. Should you find that it does contain such a clause, you can remove it.

Once you are happy with the structure of your agreement, you can utilise a Notice of Rent Increase Form to contact your tenant about this rent change.