Published: March 2025
Category: Rent | Tenancy Law

Rising mortgage rates. Skyrocketing service charges. Insurance hikes.

If your costs are going up, your rent probably should be too.
But raising rent isn’t just about slapping a new figure on an email — you’ve got to get it right legally.

Here’s how Liverpool landlords can raise rent in 2025 without ending up in hot water.

✅ 1. What Does the Tenancy Agreement Say?

Your first stop is the tenancy agreement. Does it include:

- A fixed rent for a set term?

- A rent review clause?

- A break clause or renewal trigger?

If the tenancy is within its fixed term, you usually can’t increase rent unless your contract allows for it.

👉 Most rent increases happen at renewal or when a fixed term ends.

✅ 2. Using a Section 13 Notice (For Periodic Tenancies)

If the tenancy has gone periodic (rolling monthly), you can use a Section 13 notice to propose a new rent. Rules include:

- Must be in writing using the prescribed government form

- Must give at least 1 month’s notice

- Can only be served once every 12 months

- Must be reasonable in line with market rents

- Mess this up, and your tenant can challenge it with a First-tier Tribunal.

✅ 3. Keep the Increase Reasonable and Justified

We recommend:

- Benchmarking rent against similar local properties

- Keeping records of rising costs (insurance, maintenance, licensing)

- Giving tenants advance verbal heads-up before serving notice

Tenants are more likely to accept increases that feel justified — and less likely to fight back.

✅ 4. Don’t Attempt ‘Backdoor’ Increases

Increasing rent without formal notice, or by trying to charge separately for things like:

- Parking

- Bin collection

- “Admin” costs

…can land you in breach of consumer law and your tenancy agreement.

✅ 5. Let Us Handle This For You

At Open Key, we manage rent reviews professionally and legally.
We’ll:

- Review your current rent levels

- Handle Section 13 or renewal notices

- Issue compliant documentation

- Communicate clearly with your tenants

- Avoid tribunal risks

You get more income — and none of the headaches.

💬 Need a Rent Review?

📩 [email protected]
📞 0151 701 0212