Rent increase - is it legal?

saraharrow · 12 July 2007 at 8:25PM

My landlord has just notified me that he is increasing the rent to cover 'increased costs and interest rate rises. My rent is currently £740 per month and he wants £800 from september. My landlord has done absolutely no work on the property in the entire 4 years that I have lived here, and I feel a bit aggrieved by this . I thought after the last load of interest rate rises back in the 90s it became illegal to raise the rent to cover interest rate rises. Can anyone shed any light on the matter? Thanks Sarah

Gorgeous_George · 12 July 2007 at 8:34PM

It would seem reasonable for your LL to increase the rent for whatever reason if you have 2 months' notice.

Remember, you can, and should, negotiate. A good tenant should be able to get a good deal.

NAPNOC - No agreeable price, No contract.

GG

Turnbull2000 · 12 July 2007 at 8:36PM

Hi Sara,

I think there's two choices here;

1. Call his bluff and say you'll move out. A rental void will cost him a packet.

2. Meet half way at £770 if he'll carry out maintenance. This increase would be in line with inflation and is quite reasonable.

Asking for an increase twice above inflation due to interest rate rises is not acceptable in my book.

Unfortunately, your landlord sounds like a typical johnny-come-lately.

pcwilkins · 12 July 2007 at 8:40PM

At the end of the day it's a free market, and providing he gives the required notice it's legal. It's his house, after all, and he can charge whatever he wants. But it's definately worth negotiating with him --- he won't want to lose a tenant who lets him get away with not maintaining the property for 4 years!!

Peter

saraharrow · 12 July 2007 at 8:45PM

Thanks for your responses, I may try and negotiate but I am just not the negotiating sort, I cant haggle to save my life. Well maybe I could in those circumstances, lol

Guy_Montag · 12 July 2007 at 8:54PM

saraharrow wrote: »

Thanks for your responses, I may try and negotiate but I am just not the negotiating sort, I cant haggle to save my life. Well maybe I could in those circumstances, lol

I hate haggling too; the secret is to find an nicer place for the same money or less. Then you have a good reason to move out, with only convenience holding you back.

Gingernutmeg · 12 July 2007 at 8:56PM

We've just had a similar problem with our landlord - she wanted to increase the rent by over £100 pcm, taking the rent way beyond what other properties in the area are going for. She's done absolutely no maintenance since we've been here, telling us that 'I'll make a profit anyway when I sell so I don't need maintain the property'. She wasn't willing to negotiate so we've handed in our notice. She seems to think that she'll get some 'young professionals' in the flat, but I'm not sure that young professionals will want a shower that only works when you put a peg on the tap ...

saraharrow · 12 July 2007 at 8:59PM

I Hope you will be taking the peg with you when you leave Gingernutmeg, lol

Gingernutmeg · 12 July 2007 at 9:06PM

I thought I'd leave it but either spray it silver or paint it magnolia, so it attracts the 'young professional' market

devils_advocate · 12 July 2007 at 9:09PM

saraharrow wrote: »

I Hope you will be taking the peg with you when you leave Gingernutmeg, lol

Don't! The peg probably gets a specific mention on the inventory.

Gingernutmeg · 12 July 2007 at 9:12PM

devils_advocate wrote: »

Don't! The peg probably gets a specific mention on the inventory.

Nope, we provided the peg

However, according to the inventory I do have to replace 'two plastic ice cream tubs with dead plants in' that were on the balcony when we moved in lol.

Rent increase - is it legal?

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