Section 13 notice period rules explained
Quick answer
For a monthly periodic tenancy your landlord must give at least one full month's notice, and the new rent must start on the first day of a rental period. Yearly tenancies need six months. Weekly or fortnightly tenancies still need a minimum of one month.
The minimum notice periods
| How often you pay rent | Minimum notice |
|---|---|
| Weekly or fortnightly | 1 month |
| Monthly | 1 month |
| Quarterly | 3 months (one full period) |
| Yearly | 6 months |
The rule is "one full period of the tenancy, minimum one month" — so short payment cycles are rounded up to a month, and long ones follow the period itself.
How to count the notice period correctly
- Start from the date the notice was served, not the date printed on it. If it was posted, the tenancy agreement or statute may deem service two working days later.
- Add the minimum notice period from the table above.
- Move forward to the next first day of a rental period. The new rent cannot start before that date.
Worked example
You pay rent on the 5th of each month. The landlord hands you a Form 4A on 20 March proposing a new rent from 5 April. One month from 20 March is 20 April, and the next rental period after that starts on 5 May — so the earliest valid start date is 5 May. The notice as served is invalid.
The 52-week rule
Section 13 can only be used once every 52 weeks. The clock runs from the date the last statutory increase took effect, not from the date the previous notice was served. A landlord who tries a second increase inside that window has served an invalid notice, no matter how much notice they give.
Date defects that invalidate a notice
- Start date earlier than the minimum notice period allows.
- Start date that falls mid-period rather than on the first day of a period.
- Missing date of service, which makes the notice period impossible to verify.
- A start date less than 52 weeks after the previous increase took effect.
- A notice served during a fixed term with a start date inside that term, where no rent-review clause exists.
Check your notice dates in 30 seconds
Rent Defender checks your notice against the statutory rules and drafts a counter-offer letter you can send today — Section 13 and Form 4A aware.
Generate my letterFrequently asked questions
- How much notice is needed for a rent increase?
- At least one full period of the tenancy and never less than one month. Monthly tenancies need a minimum of one month, yearly tenancies need six months.
- Does the notice period start from the date on the notice or the date I received it?
- From the date the notice is properly served on you, not the date it was written. If it was posted, allow the deemed service time in your tenancy agreement or under the Law of Property Act 1925.
- Can the new rent start mid-month?
- No. The proposed new rent must start on the first day of a rental period. If you pay on the 12th, the new rent must begin on the 12th.
- What if the notice period is too short?
- The notice is invalid and has no legal effect. Your rent stays the same until the landlord serves a fresh, correctly dated Form 4A.
Related guides
- Invalid Section 13 noticeA plain-English guide for UK tenants on the Form 4A rules landlords get wrong — wrong notice period, wrong form, wrong dates — and what to do if your Section 13 notice is invalid.
- How much can rent go up?There is no legal cap on rent increases in England, but the increase must be fair compared with similar local properties. Here is how the limit actually works and how to challenge an above-market rise.
- Appeal to the TribunalA step-by-step guide to challenging a Section 13 rent increase at the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) in England — deadlines, Form Rents1, evidence and what to expect.