An online tool has been launched as part of the Resist Rent Rises campaign to help tenants challenge rent rises.

The campaign was initiated by the London Renters Union and has brought together tenant unions from across the country

Its aim is to help renters make use of powers introduced under the Renters’ Rights Act, which allow them to challenge increases through First-tier Tribunals.

Increase delayed

LRU claims tenants could save “£1000s a year” but argues that even if challenges are unsuccessful, they can still delay rent increases from taking effect and reduce the amount tenants pay in the meantime.

It adds that successful cases will also assist with neighbouring renters’ challenges by creating evidence that can be used in similar cases.

The LRU’s aim is not only to provide assistance to individual tenants but also to slow rental growth and build pressure for the introduction of rent controls.

In its material, it highlights the relatively low cost of using the tribunal process, with applications costing £47, and describes the process as simpler than taking a landlord to court.

The union says the new rights were “hard-won by the tenants’ movement” and is urging renters to use them.

Under the Renters’ Rights Act, landlords can now only increase rents using the statutory Section 13 process, with increases limited to once a year and tenants given the right to challenge rises they believe exceed market levels through the First-tier Tribunal.

We would always recommend an open and honest conversation.”

NRLA’s Chief Policy Officer, Chris Norris, told the Negotiator: “Rather than encouraging tenants to challenge rent proposals by default, and risk introducing unnecessary acrimony into the landlord-tenant relationship, we would always recommend an open and honest conversation with a view to finding compromise where possible.

“This is far more likely to yield a positive outcome in the long-run.”