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Agreement to lower or keep the rent after a rent increase notice (England)
England · in English
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For a private landlord and tenant in England. Since 1 May 2026 a landlord can raise the rent only by a notice on Form 4A under section 13 of the Housing Act 1988, once a year, with at least two months’ notice, and the tenant may refer it to the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) before the new rent starts. Instead, the two of you can agree a rent lower than the notice proposes, or keep the current rent — or agree to reduce the rent at any time. This agreement records which, from what date, signed by both. It never sets a rent above the one the notice proposes, or above the current rent where there is no notice.
- Made for use in England
- Last updated October 28, 2026
- Document in English
Where a UK document reproduces the words of legislation or of a government publication — UK, Scottish or Northern Irish — it contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
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When to use this document
- Your landlord in England has sent a rent increase notice and you have agreed a smaller rise.
- You and your landlord have talked and agreed the rent will stay the same after all.
- Your landlord has agreed to lower the rent while repairs are done or times are hard.
- You want the rent you agreed with your landlord written down and signed by both of you.
What you fill in
The details the document asks for.
- Date
- Landlord
- Landlord's address
- Town or city
- Landlord's postcode
- Tenant
- Address of the property
- What you agree about the rent
- Date of the landlord's notice on Form 4A (if any)
- Rent proposed in that notice (£, figure only, if any)
- Current rent (£, figure only)
- Rent is paid every
- Rent agreed from the date below (£, figure only)
- Date the agreed rent starts
Common questions
- Can a landlord and tenant in England still agree a rent increase without Form 4A?
- No. Since 1 May 2026 a higher rent for a private assured tenancy can only come from a section 13 notice on Form 4A, which GOV.UK publishes free; rent review clauses in tenancy agreements no longer work. After a notice, the two of you can agree a rent lower than the one it proposes, and a reduction can be agreed at any time — this agreement is for those cases.
- How does a tenant in England challenge a rent increase notice on Form 4A?
- By applying to the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) before the date the new rent would start. The tribunal decides the market rent for the home and cannot set a rent higher than the one the notice proposes. Talking to the landlord first costs nothing: if you agree a lower figure, this agreement records it.
- When does an agreed lower rent take effect, and what should we keep?
- From the date written in it — usually the date the notice’s new rent would have started, or any date you choose for a reduction. Each of you signs and keeps a copy with the tenancy agreement, and the tenant changes the standing order. It is the proof of the rent if a later notice, a benefit claim or a deposit dispute refers to it.
How you can sign this document
- Print it and sign by hand. The signature lines in the document are left blank on purpose — sign on them in ink.
- Sign it yourself with a qualified electronic signature. If you already hold a QES — Evrotrust, B-Trust, StampIT, ZealiD or any qualified provider on the EU Trusted List, on a card, a USB token, in a mobile app or in the cloud — our signing guide explains step by step how to sign this exact file without invalidating it. Step-by-step help, and a way to check it worked
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