landlords/ladies. rent increases

G_M

On top of that, she gets her whole family to hassle us when they want to come and visit

Why do they visit? How do they hassle? Do you give them permission to come?

You rent the place, it's your home, you can refuse to let them in. If you want improvements done, fine, give permission and get improvements. If you don't, then deny access.

If the LL tries to increase the rent, you can always say no. You may, of course, then be asked to leave but the LL will have to go through the correct process to evict you which takes time. See Shelter here.

matt1234

G_M wrote: »

Why do they visit? How do they hassle? Do you give them permission to come?

You rent the place, it's your home, you can refuse to let them in. If you want improvements done, fine, give permission and get improvements. If you don't, then deny access.

If the LL tries to increase the rent, you can always say no. You may, of course, then be asked to leave but the LL will have to go through the correct process to evict you which takes time. See Shelter here.

She is 75yrs old and so can hardly do anything herself. She gets her sons to do everything and we get phone calls from them telling us they're going to be coming the next day at X time with X builders. Last time this happened we said we had to go out and they said they would just let themselves in :eek: So we just arranged for a close friend to come for an hour on that occasion. They come at least 10-15 times a year and we just let them get on with it.

That is just one example, these people basically bully us and we'd love to move out. However, due to various things such as uni exams coming up we'd rather stay until at least the Summer.....we just don't know what we should do!!

The last rent increase wasn't even communicated to us until the day we signed the contract (however, we knew it would happen). This time, they sent out a letter in Mid December informing us that the rent would increase on Feb 1st (1.5 months notice).

BitterAndTwisted

Read your contract! Does it allow for rent-increases during the term of the contract? I'd get Googling and see if you can find out what rents are for equivalent properties in the same area. £250 a month in rent increases over two years is excessive, to say the least, especially considering the current climate. There are landlords out there crying for good, reliable tenants

G_M

1) change the locks to deny them access when you don't want them. Keep the original locks and replace them when you move out
2) Write to them saying
a)you are happy to allow access for agreed improvements/repairs but due to age you need at least 48 hours notice AND
b)you must have agreed the date /time. Tell them you may need to suggest an alternative date.
c)Remind them this is your home and you have the right to agree /deny access.
d)Tell them you are changing the locks to protect your privacy but undertake to re-instate the locks when you leave.

Have you agreed to the rent increase? You don't have to! What contract are you on? A fixed term? If your fixed term ends you do not need to sign a new one. If you don't (either by agreement or by refusing) the contract automatically becomes 'periodic'. Of course the LL could give you notice to quite (2 months) but
a) that means they lose a good tenant, have a period with no rent, and have costs of finding new tenant
b) if you don't leave after 2 months they have to go to court, and then enforce a court order. Could take 6 months.

LLs (well, the ones that know!) far prefer to keep good tenants at lower rents than face all the above.

these people basically bully us

How else do they bully you? Learn your rights and stand up for them! See shelter's website here.