Everything is on my landlords terms?

red_devil

ok. will do.

pmlindyloo

princeofpounds wrote: »

There are rules about what a LL has to provide, but it's up to the LL to provide it, not the T.



It's likely to be an AST simply because they didn't move in before 1988, but we can't be sure you're right.

According to Shelter if the OP moved in between Jan 1989 and 27 Feb 1997 and hasn't been given a written notice (a section 20) saying that it is an assured shorthold tenancy then she is an assured tenant.

princeofpounds

According to Shelter if the OP moved in between Jan 1989 and 27 Feb 1997 and hasn't been given a written notice (a section 20) saying that it is an assured shorthold tenancy then she is an assured tenant.

Thanks that's really useful. It might really change the position of the T here if they are an assured tenant.

HarryBarry

red_devil wrote: »

they wouldnt provide any heating, they just wouldnt do it.
They were the same with the other house they rented out. They made no Improvments. They had an old lady living in there. They wouldnt do anything for her.

In the end she moved into a home and they sold the house off at a cheap price. Its currently being done up. The place was in such a state the new people had to start from scratch.

It was a shameful way for an old lady to have to live and she had been there years.

You should have just moved out. Who else is going to rent a place with no heating ?

Unless the rent was really cheap, then you cant really complain. Maybe they recognise the work you have done in the past and kept rent low to reflect this. Only way for people in the thread to judge is if you wanted to be a bit more specific about how much rent is and your location, along with previous rent rises.

RAS

HarryBarry wrote: »

You should have just moved out. Who else is going to rent a place with no heating ?

Unless the rent was really cheap, then you cant really complain. Maybe they recognise the work you have done in the past and kept rent low to reflect this. Only way for people in the thread to judge is if you wanted to be a bit more specific about how much rent is and your location, along with previous rent rises.

The other effective alternative would be to call in the Environmental Health and Tenancy Relations staff at the Council, who could enforce essential repairs.

red_devil

I have my agreement here. its Assured under section 20 of the housing act 1988.

BitterAndTwisted

When did the tenancy originally start? You mentioned renting for 17 years but not whether this has been one continuous tenancy in the same property.

This is absolutely critical information for people to be able to help you.


EDIT: if you have been renting the same property continuously for the last 17 years there are a limited number of reasons why the landlord can apply for possession. Rent arrears is one of them, so you MUST check whether that latest rent-increase the agent spoke of was notified with a Section 13 Notice, because if it was and you haven't been paying it, you could already have accrued enough arrears for their Section 8 Notice to succeed in court!

red_devil

yes it been continous in same property.

BitterAndTwisted

Did they issue you with a Section 13 Notice back in December?

HAMISH_MCTAVISH

red_devil wrote: »

They dont listen when i say i cant afford an increase

What you can afford is not of any relevance.

The letting agent is running a business geared towards maximising returns on the asset of the property owner.

So long as the rent increases are in line with what the wider market in your area is doing, then the agent is right to raise the rent, although given the possibility of a void if you leave the landlord may compromise so worth a shot.

But at the moment you are in arrears.

And need to be prepared to either pay up or find new accommodation if those negotiations fail.