Rent Review for Assured Periodic Tenancies

The Renters' Rights Act sets out a specific process for increasing the rent on an Assured Periodic Tenancy (APT). Alto supports this through the Rent Review button and progression, designed around Section 13 requirements, so you can propose an increase, serve the notice, and keep an auditable record in line with the legislation.

Starting a Rent Review

A Rent Review button is available for Assured Periodic Tenancies. This replaces the Renew Tenancy button, which remains available only for non-APT tenancies.

1. Click Tenancies on the main navigation bar
2. Select the relevant tenancy from Recent & Favourite Tenancies
   1. Alternatively, find the tenancy using the Search Tenancies bar in the top right
3. Click Tenancy on the side menu
4. Click the Tenancy top tab
5. Click Rent Review
   

The Rent Review window opens. A rent rise history is auto-generated for all APT tenancies, whether the tenancy was converted using the Converter Tool or created manually with a Contract type of Assured Periodic Tenancy. The system management date on APTs is set for 12 months after the latest rent rise.

Alto pre-populates the tenancy details and displays the Next Calculated Rent Notice Serve Date (Section 13) - the earliest date you're eligible to serve notice, calculated from the tenancy's rent charges. The Previous rent history is shown at the bottom of the window.

Complete the following fields:

1. In Proposed Rental Amount, enter the new rent. Alto shows the equivalent weekly figure alongside
2. In Notice Served Date, enter the date the tenant was formally served the Section 13 notice. (This is the date the tenant is formally given the Section 13 notice, and marks the start of the required 2 month notice period) 
3. In Effective Date, enter the date the increase will take effect. (This is the target date the rent increase comes into effect, and must be at least 2 months after the Notice Served Date)
4. In First Full Rent Date, enter the date the first full charge at the new rent is due
5. Check Create APT Rent Review Date is ticked, and set the Next Rent Review if required
6. Click Rent Review to confirm
   
7. Alto creates a new tenancy term with a Status of Rent Review In Progress and starts a Rent Review progression. Click Progression
   
8. The progression opens, showing the Tenancy Details for the review, the Supporting Documents panel, and the Notes panel. 
   In the Supporting Documents panel, click Upload File to attach your market appraisal or other evidence
   (There's a maximum file size of 30MB, and the file types supported are .pdf, .docx, .doc, .jpg, .jpeg, .png, .gif, .txt, .rtf, .xls, .xlw, .xlsx, .wma, .mp3, .mp4, .csv, .xml, .zip)
   

How the Rent Review progression works

The Rent Review progression helps you work in line with Section 13 rent increase requirements. It does this by:

• Showing backfilled historical rent rises. The history displays every time the rent has been updated for the tenancy. If the tenancy has recurring rent charges, these are the source of truth for rent prices; otherwise the rent stored on the tenancy term is used
• Calculating the eligible next Notice Served Date based on the APT Rent Review date
• Validating that the proposed effective date is at least 2 months after the rent notice served date
• Allowing you to upload supporting documents, so you can record your market appraisal
• Providing a system management Event Date for rent rises (APT Rent Review), set to 12 months from the last rent increase in the history. You're notified 90 days before the 12 month timer elapses (You can adjust this via Group Settings > Management Diary Events)
  
• Providing a default set of milestones designed around the Section 13 process
• Restricting the New Periodic Term functionality so it can't be used for rent increases
• Updating the APT Rent Review date whenever the rent is updated, either through the Rent Review process or by updating the recurring rent charge

You can undertake a Rent Review at any stage. Alto provides the relevant dates and information but doesn't prevent you from proceeding outside the APT Rent Review date.

Serving the Section 13 notice

The Section 13 notice is the formal document that proposes the rent increase to the tenant. Complete and serve it, then upload it against the tenancy record to keep an audit trail alongside the Rent Review.

For now, we recommend that you:

1. Download the latest documents from the Government website (linked above)
2. Complete the documents outside of Alto (pdf or document editor)
3. Upload the completed documents against the tenancy record in Alto by following the steps in Uploading documents to a tenancy
4. Share the documents from Alto where required

Finalising the Rent Review

Once the notice has been served and the rent increase is ready to take effect, finalise the review to apply the new rent to the tenancy.

1. From the progression, click Actions

2. In the dropdown, click Finalise Rent Review

    Note

   Before you finalise, Alto asks you to check the tenancy has been charged up to the new term start date. The on-screen message reads: "Please check the tenancy has been charged up to the new term start date. Note: An apportioned charge will not be created for the end of the tenancy term."

3. Click OK to continue
4. In the Finalise Rent Review window, review the Rent Review Complete summary, including the New Term start date and rental amount. Add any Notes if required
5. Click OK to confirm
   

Tracking Rent Reviews

You can view all Rent Review progressions in a lettings progressions group.

1. Click Progressions on the main navigation bar
2. In the dropdown, click Lettings progressions
3. In the Lettings section, click Rent Review

Once the increase takes effect, update the recurring rent charge. This automatically updates the APT Rent Review date.

Finalised Rent Reviews are also available to view via the Tenancy top tab of a tenancy record, where they're read-only to preserve the audit history.

FAQs

• How often can I increase the rent on an Assured Periodic Tenancy?

Once every 12 months, using a Section 13 notice, under the Renters' Rights Act.

• How much notice do I need to give?

At least 2 months before the increase takes effect. The Notice Served Date marks the start of this period, and the Effective Date must be at least 2 months later.

• Can I start a Rent Review before the APT Rent Review date?

Yes. Alto provides the relevant dates and information but doesn't prevent you from proceeding outside the APT Rent Review date.

• What is the Next Calculated Rent Notice Serve Date?

It's the earliest date you're eligible to serve the Section 13 notice, calculated by Alto from the tenancy's rent charges and shown at the top of the Rent Review window.

• Can I create the Section 13 notice in Alto?

Not currently. The Government's updated assured tenancy forms can't yet be replicated in Alto's document templates. Complete the notice from the Government website, then upload it to the tenancy record. See The Letting Centre - Section 8 and Section 13 notices.

• What happens to the APT Rent Review date after the increase?

When you update the recurring rent charge after the increase takes effect, Alto automatically updates the APT Rent Review date to 12 months on.

• Related Help Centre articles that you may find useful.

  Renters' Rights Act: Key changes

  Renters’ Rights Act: Updates to Alto

  Renters’ Rights Act: FAQs and troubleshooting guidance

  Landlord Possessions (Section 8)

  Vacating a tenancy

  The Letting Centre - Forms and Agreements 2026

  The Letting Centre - Section 8 and Section 13 notices

• Related e-Learning/video training as part of Alto Skills. Alto Skills offers self-paced digital learning in the form of skills.

  Converting Your Tenancies to Assured Periodic Tenancies

  Carrying Out a Rent Review on a Tenancy