letter to the agency - rent increase

mess0804

Hi,

I need your help in writting a letter to the agency.
I live in the curent flat for almost a year, a had a 6 months contract that I renewed once. Now I got a letter saying if I want to renew for another 6 months... with a price increase of 4 % (which is £30 more a month, I curently pay 758)
Why do they want more money: they haven't done any improvements (the flat was in a bad condition when we moved, no double glazing, cracks in the walls, old carpets.... so a year older is not become any better) ... and it's a credit crunch out there: I haven't got any pay rise this year !


Any suggestion how should I word a letter to try to convience them to keep the current price?

Thanks

Wee_Willy_Harris

It's the LL you need to contact as he's the one with most to lose from a void property. Write a letter to the agency, but copy in the LL as well, explaining that you've been a good tenant, paid the rent on time and looked after the property. Explain that you are happy there and would like to remain, but that you can see no justification in a rent increase in these difficult financial times. Provide examples of similar, cheaper properties nearby and advise that, whilst happy to sign another agreement at the same rent, you will have to consider your options if the rent were to increase.

If that doesn't work then you are left with the choice of coughing up or moving. If it's the latter, at least you have the details of some properrties to consider.

mess0804

I don't have the LL name or anything, so I have to send the letter to the agency and they will forward it.

It's hard to find a flat with the same conditions to compare prices (this one loooked slightly worse than others that's why it was a little cheaper, that was a year ago)
I have to give 2 months notice an everything is available now, so I have to decide to leave first and just try to find something in the last 2-3 weeks
Probably I will stay 6 more months anyway as I ca't afford the hassle of moving now ..... but wanted to try the letter thing to see maybe I can get them to keep the same price as now.

Wee_Willy_Harris

Ask the agents for the LLs contact details, you have a right to know them.

At the end of your current fixed term, you can leave without notice. But you MUST leave by the last day at the latest. Even 1 day over will create a statutory periodic tenancy.

Fire_Fox

mess0804 wrote: »

I don't have the LL name or anything, so I have to send the letter to the agency and they will forward it.

It's hard to find a flat with the same conditions to compare prices (this one loooked slightly worse than others that's why it was a little cheaper, that was a year ago)
I have to give 2 months notice an everything is available now, so I have to decide to leave first and just try to find something in the last 2-3 weeks
Probably I will stay 6 more months anyway as I ca't afford the hassle of moving now ..... but wanted to try the letter thing to see maybe I can get them to keep the same price as now.

You have the legal right to ask the letting agency in writing for an address at which to serve notices on your landlord. You are also only legally obliged to serve one months notice to quit coinciding with a rental period. Why not make up a list of all the problems with the property, asking for these to be rectified before the rent is increased in line with better condition flats?

I have just re-read your OP - are you saying you have simply been sent a renewal letter mentioning the increase in rent or have you been served with a proper section 13 notice? What does it say on the letter? If you have not been served proper notice you don't have to pay the higher rent, nor do you have to sign a new AST.

Is your deposit lodged in one of the three schemes? If not you cannot be served with a section 20 notice to quit if you refuse the rent rise.

jockosjungle

Sounds like you've been just sent a letter telling you the new rent if you want to stay. Unfortunately this is common and probably encouraged in B2L books and on these forums (i haven't checked), etc.

Basically your landlord has decided that for the sake of £30 you cannot be bothered with the hassle of moving, finding another place, paying another deposit, etc. You need to decide if you can be bothered for £30 a month, however if you refuse he may well back down and like you say you could insist he improves the flat.

Is your landlord name and address not on the lease?

moromir

Fire_Fox wrote: »

You have the legal right to ask the letting agency in writing for an address at which to serve notices on your landlord.

Isn't this a different peice of legislation to what WWH is talking about? As far as I know the LA's address can be used to serve notices so wouldn't really help the OP in this case?

I'm sure I've seen reference to other legislation that requires the LA to give the Tenant the Landlord's actual address upon reciept of a written request?

N79

moromir wrote: »

Isn't this a different peice of legislation to what WWH is talking about? As far as I know the LA's address can be used to serve notices so wouldn't really help the OP in this case?

I'm sure I've seen reference to other legislation that requires the LA to give the Tenant the Landlord's actual address upon reciept of a written request?

Yes it is two different pieces of legislation. To recap, by law, for an AST, a T should have:

1) An address within England or Wales for the service of notice. (S48 LL and T act 1987)
2) If they ask for it in writing, the name and address (which can be either the home address or place of business) of the LL. (S1 LL and T act 1985)

Note the address in 2) can be anywhere in the world and should never be used for serving notices.
A breach of 1) means that rent is not lawfully due until the breach is remedied while a breach of 2) is a criminal offence.

Note that 2) can be anywhere in the world and should not be used for serving notices (especially if not in England and Wales)

mess0804

I will post the letter that I got tonight.

I don't care about the LL address, if the agency is sendig the letter and getting an answer back for me that's ok. (I guess the LL is another company)

I know usually it's 1 month notice, but in my contract it is 2 months

Everyone with his own problems: when i complain about repairs the agency is sending 2 guys (not a serious company, they just have a bag with tools, no protective clothing) in the daytime. I have the choice of taking a day off work to be at home or leave the guys to wonder around my house. I choose to not complain except the major stuff. (but the flat was in a poor condition, in my inventory there are pictures with the cracks in the corners... which haven't become any better in a year)...

I am annoyed that they just want more money, without moving a finger ... no one is giving me more money...

i just want to write a letter to try to convience them of keeping the same rent (which is expensive enough ... )

mess0804

this is the letter that they sent, I phoned the agency back and ask what they mean by "the rent may increase" and they said 4% and I could try to write the landlord...

Any suggestion how should I word my letter?


edit: picture over here: http://img72.imageshack.us/img72/1070/img0307b.jpg

sequence

You can just leave at the end of the contract no notice required.