Greedy landlord - so upset!

jumperabv3

Well, I haven't been posting in the forum for quite a while, but I just felt the need to do so today, as I'm so upset with my landlord.

Basically I started my contract in August 2009 for 3 years, 2 years I'm obligated and in the 3rd year I can break the contract with a 4 week notice in advance. As you can see the 3rd year is about to start in August 2011 which is in 1 month from now approximately.

I am planning to go back to my home country in January 2012, I have no intentions to stay in the UK after January, and the landlord was asking me in the past when I'm intending to leave and I told him in January.

Now here comes the worst part:

Today I get a phone call from the letting agency (they only do lettings, no management) and the guy is telling me the landlord wants to raise the rental price by £40 per week! Why? Because his flats besides me provide him higher rent and the flat I'm in is the best flat out of all the others (it's the biggest one) but we have a contract clearly stating the rental price and we have agreed on the contract and signed 2 years ago.

Technically the contract doesn't even state that the landlord can evacuate me if he wishes to, there is no clause in the contract that provides it for him, and he knows he has to agree on our terms, the only one according to the contract who can break it is me if I give him 4 weeks notice.

I am very upset on the landlord because:

1) He knows very well that from August we got only 4 months until the date I'm intending to leave, why be so greedy and ask for extra £40 per week? Man, I just don't get people, can't they just respect an agreement?

2) I'm feeling like it but I won't do it, it's a very not "British" thing to do but I have no problems to stop paying his rent from October-November and he knows he cannot do anything about it, by the time he takes it to court I can be back in my home country, let's see him chasing me for money - I can do that, but I won't, I'm just saying these sort of peope really annoy me, why can't they just sit and swallow what they agreed with and take it nicely without being an idiot?

He has no upper hand in this, at all, and he still acts like an idiot. I just felt the need to share it, I'm very upset on some landlords, they just show their real face when they do it. In America people can even deliberately destroy the landlord's property for being like that, but I respect the country I'm living in and I will show respect, just feeling the need to put it in the forum. :mad::mad:

BitterAndTwisted

Is there any provision in your contract for a rent-increase? If it's an AST your rent cannot be raised if there's no clause allowing it.

jumperabv3

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

Is there any provision in your contract for a rent-increase? If it's an AST your rent cannot be raised if there's no clause allowing it.

No, there is not.

taxsaver

I'm sorry to hear of your problem. Fortunately you seem to have a water-tight contract in place, but I share your view that it is a stupid thing for the LL to have tried to do.

jumperabv3

The agreement may not be terminated early unless the agreement contains a break clause

Which it doesn't. (except for one that allows me to break it but not to him)

jumperabv3

taxsaver wrote: »

I'm sorry to hear of your problem. Fortunately you seem to have a water-tight contract in place, but I share your view that it is a stupid thing for the LL to have tried to do.

I agree and I just don't get people, how stupid can they be? During all this time I paid his rent on time, never gave him any issues (except for once when the kitchen table was bad and he replaced it), I had no issues with him and he had no issues with me, and I know that for some people money is tight but that doesn't mean you do such things.

The guy on the phone asked me "what do you say about paying extra £40 per week? do you agree to do that?" - why would I say yes? I pay enough rent as agreed.

InkZ

Sounds like they are trying it on.

jumperabv3

jumperabv3 wrote: »

The agreement may not be terminated early unless the agreement contains a break clause

Which it doesn't. (except for one that allows me to break it but not to him)

The property is let together with the special conditions (if any) listed in the First Schedule attached hereto

THE FIRST SCHEDULE (attach a separate sheet if necessary)

Special conditions:

If the tenant shall desire to determine the tenancy hereby created or any time after the end of the second year thereof and shall give the Landlord not less than four weeks previous notice in writing of such desire and shall up to the time of such determination pay the rent and observe and perform the agreements and obligations on the Tenant's part herein contained then immediately upon the expiration of such notice the present tenancy and everything herein contained shall cease and be void but without the predjudice to the rights and remedies of either party against the other in respect of any atecedent claim or breach of oblgiation.

Signed ......

jumperabv3

InkZ wrote: »

Sounds like they are trying it on.

What for? just to ruin my day and make me upset?

hazyjo

Have you tried negotiating on this figure? I'd be tempted to tell the agency that it was simply unaffordable and was there any negotiation or you'd have to think about walking. Of course, you might end up having to say you'll have to stay if he does call your bluff, but the chances are, if you've been good tenants who've paid on time (as you say), he'd rather keep you than risk it being empty. I suppose in his eyes, he knows you'll be going and he'll have to get new tenants in anyway in the near future.

Bit late now, but probably better to have just kept schtum.

Sorry to hear about your predicament. People really are just horrible sometimes.

Just think 'karma'...

Jx

ViolaLass

jumperabv3 wrote: »

What for? just to ruin my day and make me upset?

I wouldn't take it personally, they just want to get more money (not because they dislike you) and if you agree to the rent raise, then they can have it. Equally, if you say no, it looks like your contract says they can't force it on you.