Best ways to convince agency against rent increase?

Poq

Letting agents are asking for a rent increase upon renewal of my tenancy agreement.

I not happy with that, aside from mentioning:

• outstanding maintenance issues (their team has been poor at responding)
• building work going on inside the apartment block (busy elevators, dirt, noise, etc.)

What else can I bring up?

I have been a good tenant. I have managed to get them to do some necessary maintenance — that only improves the longevity of the property.

The agency probably doesn't like doing it, but the landlord must (he lives abroad and I can't get in touch). They said they've spoken with the landlord.

ruggedtoast

How much is the increase?

They can't make your renew the tenancy at a higher rate but you may get a S21 if they think they can get more money out of someone else.

I dont think trying to convince them of prevailing market conditions will help much, if they had the ability to understand such things they wouldnt be letting agents.

You would be better off offering a compromise amount or just saying you cant affiord it, in my experience.

Poq

Thanks for the reply.

ruggedtoast wrote: »

You would be better off ... just saying you cant affiord it, in my experience

Without any of the other stuff?

Werdnal

What are the outstanding maintenance issues, and have you reported them in writing?

As for building within the block -What sort of work is it?

You mention outstanding maintenance, then complain about work in the building - you can't really have it both ways!

How much are they proposing to increase by?

As above, they cannot force you into paying a higher rent, indeed there is no need to renew your tenancy either - as the tenancy continues, only the fixed term ends, so they are probably charging you unnecessarily to renew the tenancy. If the agents don't like it, they will probably advise the LL that best option is to evict you.

Your other option is to negotiate - tell them what you think is a fair increase, and be prepared to meet somewhere in the middle!

Werdnal

I have just noticed you went through all this here:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4307675=

Why have you started another post barely 2 weeks later, to prompt members to reply again on a subject which was thoroughly discussed then! You seemed to take exception in that thread to people telling you to search, yet you have now asked virtually the same question again, having had copious advice in first thread on how to deal with this situation. If you had further questions, it would have been much more useful to you and the rest of us, to pick up your previous thread, and tag another post on the end of it - it keeps the whole saga together, and prevents people wasting their time going through the same advice and replies again!

ruggedtoast

Poq wrote: »

Thanks for the reply.



Without any of the other stuff?

It amounts to the same thing. You are paying about as much as you are prepared to for the flat; there is no point getting into an impossible to win discussion with them about what the value might be to someone else.

Your value to them is as a reliable tenant who is already there, they can either stick with you or price you out and try someone else. Of course you do have to be prepared to go if they call your bluff, or at least back pedal.

Is the new rent reasonable?

G_M

Poq wrote: »

.

The agency probably doesn't like doing it, but the landlord must (he lives abroad and I can't get in touch). They said they've spoken with the landlord.

Best advice is to take a look at this thread here.

Poq

Thanks for your replies and advice.

The rent increase is something like £1000 extra a year.

The maintenance work inside the apartment is stuff that needs to be fixed — nothing major, but annoying. The work going on outside is to do with the building and refurbishing other apartments. The two are mutually exclusive. Outside maintenance work is disruptive and impedes on the value of the property.

Werdnal wrote: »

Why have you started another post barely 2 weeks later, to prompt members to reply again on a subject which was thoroughly discussed then! You seemed to take exception in that thread to people telling you to search, yet you have now asked virtually the same question again, having had copious advice in first thread on how to deal with this situation. If you had further questions, it would have been much more useful to you and the rest of us, to pick up your previous thread, and tag another post on the end of it - it keeps the whole saga together, and prevents people wasting their time going through the same advice and replies again!

But with regards to that part, gotta say, this forum was much better over the years when I didn't participate but only read it.

It seems that instead of a paragraph addressing my situation, some are willing to fill the thread up with what I'm doing wrong (despite being a new member to posting itself).

G_M wrote: »

Best advice is to take a look at this thread here.

What do you mean? Sorry if it's unclear, I was simply relaying that info for people here.

ACG

But if the lift stopped working, you would be moaning about that.
So theyre damned if they do fix it and damned if they dont fix it.

I would agree with one of the posters above, tell them you think its too much and that the most your prepared to go to is £xxx or start looking elsewhere.
Ive read 2 reports this year, 1 says landlords are looking to increase rent marginally and the other says theyre looking to keep it the same.
Depending on demand in your local area will tell you have much buying power you have. If you live in a desireable (for whatever reasons, nice, cheap, schools etc) area then your probably knackered.

Poq

ACG wrote: »

But if the lift stopped working, you would be moaning about that.

Excuse me?

Also, the work is not to do with the lift but with other people's apartments. In any case, I stated that construction work (on going for about 6 months already) detracts from the value of the property.

So theyre damned if they do fix it and damned if they dont fix it.

I would agree with one of the posters above, tell them you think its too much and that the most your prepared to go to is £xxx or start looking elsewhere.

OK, will do.

Ive read 2 reports this year, 1 says landlords are looking to increase rent marginally and the other says theyre looking to keep it the same.

Ah, that's cool. Thanks.

Depending on demand in your local area will tell you have much buying power you have. If you live in a desireable (for whatever reasons, nice, cheap, schools etc) area then your probably knackered.

Yup, true.

ACG

Poq wrote: »

Excuse me?

Sorry, thats the northern "charm". We just say it as it comes into our heads.
Dont take it personally.