Can the Government now set how much rent people pay? Tribunal sees landlord forced to cut it by £200 a month after a tenant challenge

A Manchester tenant challenged a proposed £50 monthly rent increase, and a tribunal set the rent at £1,450 a month, £200 below the existing rent. The case has renewed debate over whether the Renters’ Rights Act gives tenants stronger protection against rises or amounts to rent control by the back door.

The tenant said the £1,650 rent agreed in August 2025 reflected an urgent need for housing, and cited dated furnishings, maintenance problems and nearby comparable flats advertised for £1,400 to £1,500. The landlord argued the property’s size, top-floor position and natural light justified £1,700. Under the new rules, tenants can challenge increases they consider above market rates; increases require two months’ written notice, are limited to once a year, and cannot be made in the first 12 months of a tenancy.