Landlord trying to increase rent

J_i_m

I think it's a pretty crummy reason to increase the rent to be honest. I'm pretty sure my rental agreement is based on the property and not how many people working there, this family may be entitled to more child benefits but do not forget that their outgoings on food & house hold utilities electricity etc are also likely to go up as well.

It's too easy to make assumptions about the kind of people they are, do we even know if one of the parents is in full time employment? For all we know they could be, they may not be a simply drain on society afterall.

mickey54

J_i_m wrote: »

I think it's a pretty crummy reason to increase the rent to be honest. I'm pretty sure my rental agreement is based on the property and not how many people working there, this family may be entitled to more child benefits but do not forget that their outgoings on food & house hold utilities electricity etc are also likely to go up as well.

It's too easy to make assumptions about the kind of people they are, do we even know if one of the parents is in full time employment? For all we know they could be, they may not be a simply drain on society afterall.

OP 2nd post says that he is in work = paid weekly, that's why they pay rent weekly.

Tiddlywinks

Before you bring 7 children into this world you should make sure that you are able to provide for basic needs - shelter being one of them.

One parent may be working but I'd bet shed loads of money that they are getting (and will continue to get) a hefty benefits package... if there were no benefits payments do you really believe they would have 7 kids with only one parent working?

Anyway, back to the point of the rent increase... LL has every right to charge an appropriate rent and take into account the increased burden on the property from the extra occupants... wear and tear on the heating and water systems for one (extra bathing for 3 babies). Extra potential for kids to scribble on walls. Possibility of unhappy neighbours because of the noise generated by 7 kids. Think about it - would you want to live next to that?

As a LL would you want a family of nine (2 parents and 7 kids) in your 4 bed property? I don't think so.

LittleMissMuppet_2

Excuse me! How dare you make assumptions regarding my friend. I came on here to ask a simple question. Very few of you even answered my question, so to those of you who didn't, why reply?

Do you really think having triplets was planned? Yes, they have 4 children. Is that a crime? No. They don't get any benefits. Child benefit goes into the children's accounts for when they are older. Both friend and her husband work hard to provide for their children. The triplets were a massive shock.

What any of this has to do with any of you small minded people is beyond me.

Kate78

tomitma wrote: »

I have a feeling that the landlord is raising the rent hoping that they will move.

That was my first reaction, that it was a sneaky way of persuading them to move. Although it is pretty mean-spirited.

danielanthony

TBH they would be better off quitting work and getting the council to home them, they'd be on for a nice big house and plenty of benefits. The fact they don't and the father goes out to work should be applauded.

gingertips

Kate78 wrote: »

That was my first reaction, that it was a sneaky way of persuading them to move. Although it is pretty mean-spirited.

Same here.

At end of the day, your friend could try to negotiate - suggest she does some research particularly surrounding how much local authorities are going to reduce housing payments in an attempt to show the LL that hes being unrealistic to increase rent in the current climate when rents are going to fall.

Another option, but you would need her to really investigate this fully is to sit tight and refuse to move out once tenancy over. no judge is going to evict a family with 7 kids are they? and the local authority will have to give them priority - at which point they will be housed in a HA property at probably much less rent.

Again - I have to say you need to know what you are doing with this strategy & understand fully what the Local authority will do - but I have seen this with a friend of mine who wanted the tenants out when he came back from Oz - he had little or no chance of getting them out until the local authority could rehouse them.

Obviously that then generates resentment & the sort of comments you are seeing on here - why should tax payers subisidise people who choose to live beyond their means - having 7 children would be like to some exactly the same as owning several cars, paying mortgage on credit cards etc etc. If you cant afford them, then you shouldnt have them! I wish your friend luck, but with the knowledge you reap what you sow, so to speak

tara747

Tiddlywinks wrote: »

<snipped>
Anyway, back to the point of the rent increase... LL has every right to charge an appropriate rent and take into account the increased burden on the property from the extra occupants... wear and tear on the heating and water systems for one (extra bathing for 3 babies). Extra potential for kids to scribble on walls. Possibility of unhappy neighbours because of the noise generated by 7 kids. Think about it - would you want to live next to that?

No, I wouldn't. :eek::eek::eek:

Re the scribbling on walls... I doubt that 7 kids could do much more scribbling than 4. The walls etc will need repainting regardless.

danielanthony wrote: »

TBH they would be better off quitting work and getting the council to home them, they'd be on for a nice big house and plenty of benefits. The fact they don't and the father goes out to work should be applauded.

I agree. :T

harrup

LittleMissMuppet wrote: »

I am asking this for a friend.

She has 4 children living in a 4 bedroom property. The landlord quite ok with it. Friend is now 4 months pregant with triplets. Landlord came round for a 6 monthly check and found out about the triplets. Friend was going to tell him once she was further along in pregnancy. As landlord left he said, in a friendly tone, "I'll send you a letter regarding rent increase". Friend has now received the letter which states that due to extra peoplel living in the property the rent will be increasing £10 a week per extra person so £30 a week/£120 a month once babies are born. Friend doesn't know where she stands. She cant afford the extra rent. Is landlord legally able to increase rent because of extra people even if they are babies??

I can't comment on the legality of the LL rent increase. I could be totally wrong but I think he is skating on thin ice in implementing this demand. What could 3 babies possibly do that would substantiate and warrant such a raise? They are unlikely to take hour long showers or hold raves in the garden with their chums as 3 extra teenagers might.

Could your friend perhaps respond to the LL's letter, simply stating that their budget will not currently permit an increase in rent given the financial restraints of the 4 children they already have, never mind with the 3 still on the way AND that the LL's timing and demand for such was insensitive to the extreme. Plus, could he provide a rationale just HOW 3 newborns could accrue extra rent costs.

But I agree with the other posters who state that it could have been a between-the-line attempt to get your friend to move out.

That aside, I share your dismay regarding the tactless replies your question has generated.

silvercar

What could 3 babies possibly do that would substantiate and warrant such a raise?

Babies grow up into toddlers that can scribble on walls etc plus the existing kids will at times have less supervision than currently....

The bottom line is that 9 people in the house rather than 6, so the wear and tear will increase.

Insensitive timing, but better to know now than in a few months time. Easier to move house with the 3 dots contained than roaming.