As if the lettings industry wasn't already keeping up with enough legislative change, the Government has recently decided to remove the £47 fee tenants previously had to pay when challenging a Section 13 rent increase notice through the First-tier Tribunal.

On the face of it, £47 may not sound like a huge amount of money. However, the Government's view appears to be that any financial barrier to accessing justice should be removed, particularly as the Renters' Rights reforms continue to reshape the private rented sector. From July 2026, tenants will no longer have to pay this fee to ask the Tribunal to determine whether a proposed rent increase reflects the open market.

For tenants, this is undoubtedly welcome news. If they genuinely believe a proposed increase is excessive, they can challenge it without reaching for their debit card first.

For landlords and agents, however, it is likely to mean an increase in the number of referrals to the Tribunal. Human nature tells us that when something becomes free, more people are inclined to use it. The challenge for landlords will be ensuring that every rent increase is properly evidenced and supported by local market data before serving a Section 13 notice.

The reality is that most professional landlords are not seeking unreasonable increases. Rising mortgage costs, insurance premiums, maintenance expenses and compliance obligations have all contributed to higher operating costs over recent years. Market rents have largely followed these pressures rather than caused them.

What makes this particular change even more entertaining is the Government's legislative housekeeping.

The fee removal was introduced through the wonderfully titled Court and Tribunal Fees (Miscellaneous Amendments) Order 2026. But before it could even properly come into force, another statutory instrument arrived: the equally catchy Court and Tribunal Fees (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Change of Coming into Force) Order 2026.

In simple terms, the Government passed an Order to amend tribunal fees and then had to pass another Order to change the date that the first Order would actually start. If nothing else, it demonstrates that even Whitehall occasionally needs a last-minute diary adjustment. The second Order simply moved commencement from 6 July to 13 July 2026.

For landlords, the message remains unchanged: ensure rent reviews are fair, evidence-based and reflect genuine local market conditions. For tenants, the Tribunal process is now slightly more accessible.