Help with excessive rent increase

fibromrs

Hi everyone, I am new to this forum but, am in desperate need of help. We have been renting our property since 2004, we rent through an agent on a yearly lease contract. I believe we have been good tenants and have always been compliant. Our landlady has never given notice to visit just turns up and I have never not let her in.

I today got a letter from the agent saying that our lease is up in September and that the rent will be going up by £200 a month. We at present pay £800 pcm for a 3 bed town house in Berkshire, our landlady has done the bear minimum with the house and it is in a state of disrepair. The kitchen still has 70's kitchen units that the doors have fallen off and now just cant be put back anymore (we are being blamed for this), The facia boards are rotting as are most of the windowsills, the windows were put in by a cowboy and have large gaps in them, the roof leaks in places so have water marks running down the walls, the plaster work is crumbling and I wouldn't be suprised if the electrics where dangerous as I know we have an electrical leak somewhere.

Now we have done a lot of repairs out of our own pocket because of the length of time it took for her to even come and look. Light and plug sockets falling off wall or not working, replacing taps, re sealing bath and we have even converted part of the garage into a small room with her permission all out of our own pocket. She never does anything and was appalled at having to pay for the boiler to be fixed just before christmas as she was away and the agent couldn't get hold of her we had to wait 3 weeks for it to be fixed having very little heat and no hot water. This is not the first time this had happened last time we went 9 weeks without heating in the winter.

Anyway thats enough of me moaning. I feel this rent rise is more than excessive its dam right robbery. I am disabled and my husband is undergoing tests for a heart problem. I am at my wits end at the thought of having to move at this time is there anything I can do.

Liz

hcb42

It seems an excessive rent increase. Point out all the flaws, what does £1K get you in your town?

BitterAndTwisted

Decline the agent's kind offer and tell them that considering the state of the property and in view of the fact of how many repair jobs you had to do yourselves and finance yourselves in the past, the property is not worth a 25% increase in rent.

If they're absolutely determined to get a grand a month in rent, you will be moving eventually.

fibromrs

hcb42 wrote: »

It seems an excessive rent increase. Point out all the flaws, what does £1K get you in your town?

Probably a 3 bed detached or semi in modern condition with a decent kitchen, bathroom and decoration. Have pointed all this out to our L.A but, she will not back down basically telling agent every fault in the house is down to our misuse which I can most certainly tell you it is not.

Liz

chocdonuty

Sorry to point out the obvious, but why don't you just move out?

fibromrs

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

Decline the agent's kind offer and tell them that considering the state of the property and in view of the fact of how many repair jobs you had to do yourselves and finance yourselves in the past, the property is not worth a 25% increase in rent.

If they're absolutely determined to get a grand a month in rent, you will be moving eventually.

Have declined and been told that she is adamant at the rent rise so, basically yeah we are going to have to move. This is so unfair though as we have been model tenants and have never asked for more than we would expect and even paid for things out of our own pocket when she has been less than forth coming when repairs are needed.

Liz

BitterAndTwisted

I don't wish to sound unsympathetic but you were very, very foolish indeed to do any repairs or maintenance to your landlady's property. Never, ever do this again

fibromrs

chocdonuty wrote: »

Sorry to point out the obvious, but why don't you just move out?

It's not impossible to move out but, I am in poor health, hubby is waiting an operation and undergoing test for a hereditary heart condition. Just something else I could do without right this minute we really cannot afford to find another place to rent around here if hubby is going to be out of action for a while which means we will have to move to another area.

Liz

fibromrs

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

I don't wish to sound unsympathetic but you were very, very foolish indeed to do any repairs or maintenance to your landlady's property. Never, ever do this again

Yes I know that now. Hindsight is a wonderful thing but, when you have bare electrics hanging out of the wall and the only thing holding the light switch to the wall was a piece of flimsy wood as the plaster work was crumbling what else would you do. It took her 3 months to come and look at it and still nothing was done 3 months later.

Liz

climbgirl

I know moving is a massive pain but frankly after everything you've put up with for so long, I'm surprised you haven't done it sooner!

If she's adament about the rise, you might find it's your only option. But try to look on the bright side - you'll hopefully find a much better landlord who's prepared to obey the law and who will actually do basic maintenance on the property.

Lazzza

Why don't you ask if they'll spread the increase over a few years, i.e. agree to a 4% per annum increase for a few years.

"25% or nothing" seems like an odd way to negotiate for both parties.