Rent negotiations on end of tenancy

Wookster

My 1 year lease is up on the 5th of April and I received a letter from the estate agent stating that they were "happy to renew the lease but that they wanted to increase the rent from £140 a week to £160 a week (14% increase) and would I contact them to discuss by tomorrow (13th) otherwise they will assume I am not renewing and that they will start looking for another tenant"

As I'm planning on going travelling later this year I don't want to have to go through the fuss of looking for another flat only to move out in 6 months - can anyone recommend some good negotiation tactics?

Secondly, does there letter count as an eviction notice? I seems pretty thin and doesn't officially give me a full months notice. What are my rights regarding this?

Guy_Montag

1) they have to give you 2 months notice to quit, unless the gave you an S21 at the beginning of the tenancy.
1a) You are normally entitled to a full months notice of rent rise, but I'm not sure how it works at the end of a tenancy
2) I would start looking anyway, you might find a gem
3) I would tell them that you are looking for a flat whether you are or not. You can just leave on the 5th unless you sign a new agreement.

Wookster

Thanks for the reply.

Is an S21 a formal notice of eviction? Is it standard practise to hand one out at the begining of a tenancy? I certainly don't remember receiving one.

thesaint

Wookster wrote: »

Thanks for the reply.

Is an S21 a formal notice of eviction? Is it standard practise to hand one out at the begining of a tenancy? I certainly don't remember receiving one.

An S21 is a formal notice of eviction.

It is not standard practice handing one at the beginning of the tenancy, but letting agents and landlords are doing it increasingly. Check all paperwork you have received before doing anything.

If I were in your position, I would not sign a new agreement, and let your agreement lapse into a periodic tenancy and move out in 6 months time, after giving a months notice.

I would simply pay the rent rise, this may persuade the landlord to keep you instead of issuing an eviction notice.

It is important to confirm whether you have already 'been evicted' without your knowledge.