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 - see Changing the APT Rent Review date below)
  
• 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.

Changing the APT Rent Review date

Alto sets the APT Rent Review date automatically, 12 months after the latest rent rise. If it needs correcting, you can amend it from the tenancy record or from the Property Management Dashboard.

From the tenancy record

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 Dates on the side menu
4. Find the APT Rent Review entry and amend its Due Date
5. Click Update 

From the Property Management Dashboard

1. Click the Alto Logo (Home tab) on the main navigation bar
2. Click Property Management Dashboard on the Home screen side menu
3. In the Event Dates widget, click APT Rent Review 
4. Find the APT Rent Review entry and amend its Due Date
5. Click Update 

Changing when the reminder appears

By default, Alto reminds you 90 days before the APT Rent Review date, so you have time to serve the Section 13 notice. To be reminded earlier or later, change how many days in advance the date is diarised. This applies to every tenancy in your group.

1. Click Tools (the cog) on the main navigation bar
2. In the dropdown menu, click Templates and admin
3. On the side menu, under System Tools, click System Administration
4. Click Group Settings
5. Scroll down and click Management Diary Events
6. Find APT Rent Review and change the number in Diarise Days in Advance
7. Click Save

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 and organising documents
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.

When you finalise, Alto adds an end date to the tenancy's current recurring rent charge and creates a new rent charge for the increased amount, starting from the First Full Rent Date set on the Rent Review.

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

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.

• Why can't I see the Rent Review button?

The Rent Review button is only available for Assured Periodic Tenancies. It replaces the Renew Tenancy button, which remains available only for non-APT tenancies. If the tenancy should be an Assured Periodic Tenancy, convert it using the RRA Converter Tool, or manually by creating a New Periodic Term with a Contract type of Assured Periodic Tenancy. See Renters’ Rights Act: Updates to Alto.

• 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.

• How do I change the APT Rent Review date?

You can amend it from the tenancy record or the Property Management Dashboard. See Changing the APT Rent Review date above. Changing it only moves Alto's reminder - you can still only increase the rent once every 12 months.

• How do I remove the APT Rent Review date on let only tenancies?

You can control whether an APT Rent Review date is created for a tenancy using the Create APT Rent Review Date setting on the tenancy record.

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 Details top tab

This setting defaults to:

• enabled (ticked) for Managed properties
• disabled (unticked) for non-managed properties

If you don’t want an APT Rent Review date for a specific tenancy, open the tenancy record and untick Create APT Rent Review Date.

Tenancies converted before approximately 15 May 2026 may have this setting enabled by default, even if they are not managed. You can change it at any time.

• Can I be reminded earlier, for example at 10 months?

Yes. Alto reminds you 90 days before the APT Rent Review date by default, which is around the 9-month point. To change this, update Diarise Days in Advance for APT Rent Review in Management Diary Events. See Changing the APT Rent Review date above.

• Why is my reminder showing 30 days instead of 90?

Check the tenancy's Contract type. An Assured Shorthold Tenancy uses the Rent Review date rather than APT Rent Review, and each has its own Diarise Days in Advance setting in Management Diary Events.

• Can I create the Section 13 notice in Alto?

No. The Government can amend the Section 13 notice (Form 4A) at short notice, so a copy isn't held in Alto. Complete the notice from the Government website, then upload it to the tenancy record. See The Letting Centre - Section 8 and Section 13 notices.

• Why hasn't the rent charge increased after I finalised the Rent Review?

Alto only updates the rent charge when you finalise if the rent charge set to the Change To Periodic charge event is Enabled for the tenancy's branch. If the charge hasn't updated, update the recurring rent charge manually. To have Alto update it automatically on future Rent Reviews, see Configuring automatic lettings charges.

• What should I do if I’ve set the wrong date on a Rent Review?

Once a Rent Review progression has been finalised, the date can’t currently be amended directly.

You may also see an error if you try to finalise a Rent Review, or create a new periodic term, with a start date earlier than an existing term’s start date.

If you’ve finalised a Rent Review with the wrong date, before making further changes to the tenancy, contact our support team by clicking Contact support below and completing the contact form.

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

When the recurring rent charge is updated, either automatically when you finalise the Rent Review or manually once the increase takes effect, Alto 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

  Landlord Possessions (Section 8)

  Vacating a tenancy

  Managing Pet Requests on a tenancy

  Configuring automatic lettings charges

  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 Academy. Alto Academy offers self-paced digital learning.

  Converting Your Tenancies to Assured Periodic Tenancies

  Carrying Out a Rent Review on a Tenancy