Greedy landlord - so upset!

ViolaLass

I give in. OP, you're being silly.

Doom_and_Gloom

Rent increases when still in the contract period is not allowed from what I know as you agree to the terms and the price on said contract only. However I am not sure what the practice is when there is a break-clause. Landlords can raise the rent at any time otherwise. It may be that due to the break-clause there is legal standing for the Landlord to raise the rent if they want to but I do doubt it. I do think £40/week icrease is a lot though! That equals to around £170/month. Where are you renting that the rental market has gone up so much in 2 years? Was your rent rather below market value when you moved in? Did the Landlord agree to a low rent on the knowledge you would be staying for so long and as such had a guaranteed rental income?

Holding back rent is also not allowed/advised. It is best to be the perfect tenant, then if the Landlord is wrong in what he is doing you have the advantage. Having such an advantage is key when you are a tenant.

I would advise on writting to the Landlord about the matter. Say you agreement is for a fixed rent with no mention of increases during the contract period so you are confused as to why they are asking for more.
I wouldn't agree to the rise in rent as if you do you will have to pay the extra - it won't matter that you would still be in the contract then.

From what you have put there is no reason for you to have an increase in rent. However I do not agree that you seem to think it is perfectl reasonable to hold back rent! It is not and it is people that do that that give us tenants a bad rep.

jjlandlord

Ok, OP lost it but there is no need to respond with some English arrogance.

OP is going back to the US at the end of his tenancy and the agent probably knows it.
Even if we are talking about an all English agent that means that there is chance that they will try to shaft OP by delaying refund of the deposit as much as they can and then only refund a part of it.
So in OP's shoes I would consider how to protect myself against that. And not paying the last rent can be a way.

Life is not fair or polite. Deal with it.

ViolaLass

jjlandlord wrote: »

Even if we are talking about an all English agent that means that there is chance that they will try to shaft OP by delaying refund of the deposit as much as they can and then only refund a part of it.

The deposit is in a scheme so what you/the OP fear is very easy to avoid (without being illegal).

jjlandlord

ViolaLass wrote: »

The deposit is in a scheme so what you/the OP fear is very easy to avoid (without being illegal).

Sure... Starting a dispute from halfway across the globe is simple and fast.

ViolaLass

jjlandlord wrote: »

Sure... Starting a dispute from halfway across the globe is simple and fast.

It would be online so geography is irrelevant.

jjlandlord

ViolaLass wrote: »

It would be online so geography is irrelevant.

Depends on what supporting documentation is needed...

I'm not saying that this is "right" to withhold rent to cover deposit. But in OP's situation it is not unreasonable to consider the option.

If everyone was actually behaving as virtuously as posters in this thread suggest they would, the world would have noticed...

taxsaver

Yes, but surely the OP then 'misbehaving' and being 'encouraged' to do so, isn't going to do much to help us TO achieve a more virtuous world is it?

somethingcorporate

jjlandlord wrote: »

Depends on what supporting documentation is needed...

I'm not saying that this is "right" to withhold rent to cover deposit. But in OP's situation it is not unreasonable to consider the option.

If everyone was actually behaving as virtuously as posters in this thread suggest they would, the world would have noticed...

It is unreasonable to consider that as an option, especially as they came on here being "so upset" that their LL asked to increase the rent. You cannot have it both ways! The LL has not actually DONE anything yet you are advocating they breach their contract. If you are a LL as your username implies you must have a very low standard of tenant if you expect yours to withhold the last (or any) payment.

I find the hypocrisy from the OP highly amusing, especially if they cannot see anything wrong with them breaching the contract but the LL is not allowed to ask to vary the existing terms. What is this world coming to?

jumperabv3

jjlandlord wrote: »

Ok, OP lost it but there is no need to respond with some English arrogance.

OP is going back to the US at the end of his tenancy and the agent probably knows it.
Even if we are talking about an all English agent that means that there is chance that they will try to shaft OP by delaying refund of the deposit as much as they can and then only refund a part of it.
So in OP's shoes I would consider how to protect myself against that. And not paying the last rent can be a way.

Life is not fair or polite. Deal with it.

Well said. :T
(I'm saying it without any sarcasm)