Free tool · England
Section 13 rent increase date calculator
Enter your tenancy dates and how you’ll serve the notice. We apply the three Form 4A date rules and allow time for delivery.
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Enter the tenancy start date to see the earliest valid date.
The three date rules on Form 4A
Form 4A (Note A) sets three requirements. The new rent can only start on a date that meets all of them:
- Two months’ notice. The notice must be served at least two months before the new rent starts.
- 52 weeks since the last change. The first increase can’t start until 52 weeks after the tenancy began. Later increases must be at least 52 weeks after the previous one, or 53 weeks if the 52-week date would fall more than 6 days before the anniversary of your first increase after 11 February 2003.
- The start of a rent period. For a monthly tenancy that began on the 15th, the new rent must start on the 15th. For a weekly tenancy that began on a Monday, it must start on a Monday.
How we allow for delivery
The two months run from when the tenant receives the notice, so the calculator allows time for delivery. These are cautious planning allowances, not legal rules:
| How you serve it | Treated as received |
|---|---|
| By hand | The same day |
| Left at the property | 1 business day later |
| Email (only if the tenancy agreement allows it) | 1 business day later |
| First class or Special Delivery post | 2 business days later |
Worked examples
Monthly tenancy, served by post
The tenancy started on 1 June 2025. You post the notice first class on Tuesday 20 October 2026.
- Treated as received: Thursday 22 October 2026 (2 business days).
- Two months’ notice ends: 22 December 2026.
- 52 weeks after the start: 31 May 2026, already passed.
- Next rent day (the 1st) after 22 December: Friday 1 January 2027.
Weekly tenancy, served by hand
The tenancy started on Monday 5 January 2026. You hand the notice over on Monday 2 November 2026.
- Two months’ notice ends: Saturday 2 January 2027.
- 52 weeks after the start: Monday 4 January 2027.
- Both rules are met on Monday 4 January 2027, which is also a rent day: 4 January 2027.
Posting over Christmas
The tenancy started on 15 March 2024 and the last increase was on 15 December 2025. You post the notice on Thursday 24 December 2026.
- Christmas Day, the weekend and the Boxing Day bank holiday on 28 December are skipped: treated as received Wednesday 30 December 2026.
- Two months later is 30 February, which doesn’t exist, so the notice ends on 28 February 2027.
- 52 weeks after the last increase: 14 December 2026, already passed.
- Next rent day (the 15th): 15 March 2027. Posting a week earlier would have allowed 15 February.
Next steps
When you have your date, create the Section 13 notice. The form checks the same rules as you type. For more examples, read how to work out the earliest rent increase date, and what happens if your tenant challenges the increase at the tribunal.
Frequently asked questions
How much notice does a Section 13 notice need?
At least two months before the new rent starts, counted from when the tenant receives the notice.
How often can I increase the rent?
No more than once a year. The first increase cannot start until 52 weeks after the tenancy began, and later increases at least 52 weeks after the last one (sometimes 53, which the calculator handles if you enter the dates on Form 4A).
Does the date have to be a particular day?
Yes. The new rent must start on the first day of a rent period. For a monthly tenancy that began on the 20th, it must start on the 20th.
Why does the delivery method matter?
Notice runs from when the tenant receives it, so we allow a few business days for post. These are cautious planning allowances. See how to serve a notice.
What if two months later falls on a day that doesn’t exist?
We use the last day of that month. For example, two months after 30 December is 28 February in a non-leap year.
Do bank holidays count?
For our postal and letterbox allowances we count business days, which skip weekends and England and Wales bank holidays. Posting just before Christmas can add several days.
Can I pick a later date than the earliest one?
Yes. Any later date works as long as it is the first day of a rent period. Many landlords pick a round date such as the anniversary of the tenancy.