Increase of rent

(1) The amount of any rent payable in respect of a tenancy to which this Act applies, shall not at any time be increased during the continuance of the tenancy unless the landlord serves notice on the tenant of such increase not less than six months prior to 1st January of the year after the year in which the notice is served. (2) A notice of increase of rent shall be in writing signed by the landlord or his authorised agent and shall specify a day, not being a day earlier than 1st January of the year after the year in which the notice is served, as the day on and from which the increased rent has effect, and shall state the amount of the rent to be paid on and from that day. (3) A notice of increase of rent shall not state as the day on and from which the increased rent has effect any day other than a day on which rent normally falls due under the provisions of the contract of tenancy. (4) Service of a notice of increase of rent shall be effected in the manner provided by section 7 (1) of this Act for the service of a notice to terminate a tenancy to which this Act (5) Where the rent payable in respect of a tenancy to which this Act applies was increased on the day of commencement of this Act or at any time after that day and prior to the day on which this Act was first published in the Gazette after the Governor assented to its enactment, and the tenant has on such first mentioned day or at any time within such period paid as rent any amount in excess of the amount payable as the rent of the tenancy immediately prior to its being increased, the landlord shall within one month of the day of such publication refund to the tenant such excess of rent. (6) If a landlord fails to comply with subsection (5) of this section, the tenant may, at any time by notice in writing according to Form 5 in the First Schedule, apply to the Tribunal having jurisdiction in the area in which the land to which his tenancy relates is situate, for the recovery of such amount of excess rent paid by him as he satisfies the Tribunal is due and owing to him.