Rent increase...

G_M

blondie12 wrote: »

hi guys!

As it is, we have been renewing the tenancy agreement whenever the LA has written to us to give us the 2 month notice bit and asking if we are looking to renew the tenancy agreement etc - the tenancy agreement has been for 6 months @ a time.

As it happens, end of last week they have sent their usual letter asking if we want to renew or hand in our 2 month notice... with the added bit of a 'proposed rent increase'.

Rent at the mo is £795 pcm... they are looking to increase it to £815 pcm based on the fact the rental market has moved on in the area.

Unfortunately we can't contact the LL directly because he's in the army and as far as we know, he is serving abroad.

I did speak to the LA earlier and asked them about the rent, I asked if the rent increase was from themselves or the LL and they said the LL and then said they work on behalf of him.

Anyway, any help would be much appreciated as we are very happy here and as we have 2 dogs, it's rare to find a LL that will accept pets.

Thanks guys!!

1st point - You do not need to give 2 months notice. In fact if you currently have a 6 month fixed term contract you do not have to give ANY notice. You can simply leave on the last day of the fixed term. However it is polite to give notice.

2nd point - it's not a huge increase, but of course it all depends if the rent was high, low or average to start with, and whether rents in your area have risen or not. So step one is to compare what you would pay locally for a similar property.

3rd point - you could simoly ignore them, or stall/make excuses. if you stay one day beyond the 6 month fixed term, you automatically become a (monthly) periodic tenant, at te same rent and on the same terms as before, except that you can give one months notice at any time and the landlord can give you 2 months notice at any time.

4th point - it costs the LL money if you choose to leave, or if he chooses to evict you (ie after you move to a periodic tenancy). There's a gap between tenants with zero rent. There's advertising costs. There's vetting costs. And inevitably some decorating/sprucing up costs. Will the LL risk those costs for the sake of £20 per month!?

5th point - of course it also costs you to move!

So. Either
1) accept the £20 increase, sign, and get 6 months security
2) accept the £20 increase, sign, but ask for 12 months this time (if you're willing to commit that long
3) stall and go periodic at the old rent and hope you hear no more
4) offer to sign a new contract for £805, stressing what a valuable reliable tenant you are and how the next one would be a complete unknown.

But bear in mind the agent has different interests to the landlord. The agent makes money each time a 6 month contract is signed (but not if you go periodic, or switch to 12 months) and also makes money if you leave by charging the LL to find a replacement.

tbs624

G_M wrote: »

1st point - You do not need to give 2 months notice. In fact if you currently have a 6 month fixed term contract you do not have to give ANY notice. You can simply leave on the last day of the fixed term. However it is polite to give notice.

..unless the property is in Scotland, in which case the T needs to be aware of the doctrine of tacit relocation under which, in the absence of appropriate notice being given, upon expiry of one FT a tenancy agreement will automatically renew for a further FT.

blondie12_2

No it's in not so sunny Sussex )