For private renters in England only. Guidance only, not legal advice.

The MR1 form, step by step

Checked against legislation.gov.uk and GOV.UK on 8 October 2026. England only. Guidance only, not legal advice.

The MR1 is the form a tenant in England uses to ask the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) to decide the open market rent. This guide follows the current version, "MR1 Apply for a determination of an open market rent (08.26)", section by section. It is written for a tenant filling in their own form without a solicitor. You type, sign and send it yourself.

Before you start. The tribunal has to receive your application before the start date of the new rent (question 4.6 on your Form 4A). Do not wait until your evidence is perfect. The form itself says that if you cannot provide everything, you should explain why.

Paper form or online?

  • Online (apply-for-market-rent-determination): you can "Save for later" and come back. The tribunal sends your application to your landlord.
  • Paper MR1 (PDF on GOV.UK, which you can fill in on screen): you email or post it and send a copy to your landlord yourself.
  • Validity only: if you only want to argue the notice is invalid, and not the amount, GOV.UK says you must use the paper MR1. If the tribunal then finds the notice valid, GOV.UK says you must make a separate application to challenge the rent, and Citizens Advice warns you could be in rent arrears if you have not paid the new rent.

The questions are much the same either way. This guide uses the paper form's numbering. For made-up sample answers to each question, see MR1 example answers.

What you need before you begin

  • A complete copy of the landlord's notice (Form 4A). The form says it "must be attached to your application form".
  • A complete copy of your tenancy agreement, or a reason why you do not have one.
  • Photos: one of the outside of the property and one of each room, with nothing personal showing.
  • The approximate size of each room.
  • Your rent evidence: similar homes and what they let for. See What the tribunal looks at.
  • £47 for the fee, or a Help with Fees reference number.

Section 1: type of appeal

Question 1.1 asks what you are challenging. Most tenants with a Form 4A choose "I am challenging the proposed rent increase in the section 13 notice", which also covers a challenge to the validity of the notice. The other choices are an excessive rent within the first six months of a tenancy, or the validity of the notice only (fee payable).

Question 1.2 asks the type of tenancy. If you got a Form 4 or Form 4A, choose "Assured tenancy, including assured shorthold tenancy". Question 1.3 asks when the notice was served: before 1 May 2026 (no fee) or on or after that date. Question 1.4 asks whether it is social housing. For a private tenancy answer "No", and the fee applies.

Section 2: your details

Your name, address and contact details. If you rent with others, you can apply as joint tenants, but the form says you must have their permission. Question 2.6 asks about a representative. You do not need one. GOV.UK says "You do not need a representative to apply." If you name one, the tribunal will only write to them, so leave this blank unless someone has agreed to act for you.

Section 3: your landlord's details

Copy the landlord's name and address from section 2 of the Form 4A, and the agent's details from section 3 if there is one. Include an email address if the notice gives one.

Section 4: the notice

  • 4.1: confirm you attached a complete copy of the notice.
  • 4.2: "Do you agree that the notice served is valid?" If you think it breaks a rule, answer "No" and give your reasons in the box, for example "The notice was served on 16 June 2026 and the new rent starts on 15 August 2026, which is less than two months later (Housing Act 1988, section 13(2)(a))." List any evidence, such as the dated envelope or email.
  • 4.3: whether the tribunal has decided the rent for your tenancy before.

The checker result lists each rule with its legal source, which can help you put your reasons into words.

Section 5: your tenancy

Your current rent and how often you pay it, whether it includes council tax or bills and when the tenancy began. Attach your tenancy agreement or explain why you cannot. Questions 5.6 to 5.8 are only for challenges to the starting rent and older social housing cases.

Section 6: the property

The type of home, which floor, the number and type of rooms, any garden or garage and whether you share any of it. Then the photos: question 6.6 is a photo of the outside and 6.7 asks for the size of each room with a photo of each. The form warns that these will be shared with your landlord, so make sure nothing personal is visible.

Section 7: furniture and appliances

List anything the landlord provides under the tenancy, such as a fridge, a cooker or a sofa. Leave out what you bought yourself and say so.

Section 8: services

Services provided under the tenancy (such as cleaning or gardening) and any separate charges for services, maintenance or repairs. Say whether those charges vary.

Section 9: indoor features

Describe the heating, glazing, flooring and kitchen and bathroom. Be factual. If the boiler is old or the windows are single glazed, say so. Condition is part of what sets the open market rent.

Section 10: improvements

Tell the tribunal about any improvements you or a former tenant made that you were not responsible for under the tenancy, such as fitting a new kitchen at your own cost. The tribunal has to ignore any increase in value from improvements made by the tenant (section 14(2)(b)).

Section 11: repairs

Which repairs are the landlord's responsibility and which are yours. If there is disrepair, describe it here or in section 12 with dates and photos.

Section 12: open market rent

This is the heart of the form. Question 12.1 asks what you think the open market rent should be. Give a figure and explain how you got it. Question 12.2 asks for your evidence: write it in the box or attach it. A simple table works well: address or street, type and size, condition, rent, date and where you found it. GOV.UK says evidence from actual agreed lettings is stronger than adverts. Question 12.3 is for anything else, such as disrepair or missing facilities.

Section 13: inspection

"The tribunal will usually make its decision based on the documents and evidence provided." Ask for an inspection only if something about your home cannot be shown in documents and photos, such as damp that photos do not capture. Explain why. The tribunal decides.

Section 14: hearing

Most cases are decided on paper. Ask for a hearing only if you want to add to your written evidence in person or online, and say why.

Section 15: hardship

If paying the new rent from the usual date would cause you undue hardship, say "Yes" and give full details of your income, outgoings and circumstances, with evidence. For a Form 4A challenge the tribunal can delay the start of the new rent "up to two months after the date of its decision" (MR1 note to 15.1; section 14ZB(4)).

Section 16: the fee

The application fee is £47. Choose how you pay: by card (the tribunal emails you how to pay), by cheque or postal order to "HMCTS" or with Help with Fees. For Help with Fees, apply online at GOV.UK and write your HWF reference number in the boxes, or attach the paper form EX160. Question 16.1 lets you ask the tribunal to order your landlord to repay the fee. Say why.

Statement of truth and checklist

Sign and date the statement: "I believe that the facts stated in this form and any continuation pages are true." Then work through the checklist: the tenancy agreement, the landlord's notice and a tick to confirm you have sent a copy of the application and attachments to the landlord.

Sending it

  1. Email the form and attachments to marketrents@justice.gov.uk, or post them to First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber), Residential Property, Market Rents, PO Box 10057, Leicester LE19 9EP. The tribunal's phone number is 0300 303 5857.
  2. Send a copy to your landlord by email or post, with the same attachments. Keep proof.
  3. Keep paying your current rent.

After you send it

The MR1 says your landlord "will have 28 days to send you and the tribunal their response on a form called MR2". If they respond, "you have 14 days to respond using form MR3". The tribunal then considers everything and sends a written decision.

If you get stuck, the tribunal can answer questions about the process on 0300 303 5857 but "cannot give legal advice on your case". For advice, contact Shelter, Citizens Advice or a law centre.

Want your own facts in the form's order? The Rent Challenge Pack (£34.99) turns your answers into MR1 answers question by question, with your covering letters and a guide to your dates. You check, sign and send it yourself.

Questions people ask

Is MR1 the same as Rents1?

The current form on GOV.UK is called MR1, "Apply for a determination of an open market rent". Some older advice still mentions Rents1. Use the MR1 from the GOV.UK page "Apply for an open market rent determination", or the online service.

Can I fill in MR1 online?

Yes. HMCTS runs an online service where you can save and come back. If you only want to challenge whether the notice is valid, you must use the paper MR1. If the tribunal then finds the notice valid, GOV.UK says you must make a separate application to challenge the rent, and Citizens Advice warns you could be in rent arrears if you have not paid the new rent.

Where do I send the paper MR1?

By email to marketrents@justice.gov.uk or by post to First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber), Residential Property, Market Rents, PO Box 10057, Leicester LE19 9EP. Send a copy to your landlord too.

Do I have to send a copy to my landlord?

If you apply by email or post, yes. The MR1 says you must send a copy of the application to the landlord and any interested party by email or post. If you apply online, the tribunal sends it.

What if I cannot get all the documents before the deadline?

Apply anyway. GOV.UK says you must apply before the start date even if you are still collecting evidence. The MR1 says that if you cannot provide everything, explain why and the tribunal will decide whether the application can proceed.

Sources

  1. MR1 Apply for a determination of an open market rent, version 08.26 (GOV.UK PDF)
  2. GOV.UK: Apply for an open market rent determination (updated 10 August 2026)
  3. Apply online for an open market rent determination (HMCTS)
  4. Housing Act 1988, section 14 (applications under (A1) and (A3))
  5. Housing Act 1988, section 14ZB (hardship)
  6. First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Fees Order 2013, Schedule 1
  7. GOV.UK: Get help paying court and tribunal fees
  8. GOV.UK: Apply for help with court and tribunal fees (EX160)