Is this discrimination? Landlord charging higher rent than others..

Strapped

Don't be a d.ick.

theartfullodger

If it was discrimination (eg religion..) for you to agree to pay more for the place, presumably you would consider it discrimination if LL had agreed for you to pay less..

In such circumstances would you therefore sue him for discrimination & pay him the difference??

For the avoidance of doubt I definitely discriminate when letting my properties: I discriminate in favour of prospective tenants who have evidence they can & have paid similar rents and have looked after previous rentals....

Cheers!

ognum

Do the other tenants have the same landlord?

What race, creed, sexual orientation are the other residents?

Why did you choose this flat when you rented it? Presumably you looked at more than this one and made an educated choice?

If you are being discriminated against then you do have a case but we do not have enough information here to judge.

DRP

Perhaps those with lower rents are more adept at negotiation?

Unless you have any other evidence that would point to the LL being some kind of bigot, then this doesn't really look like discrimination.

_Andy_

tin foil hat

Werdnal

I am assuming all tenant's in the block have the same LL?

I don't see you have a case unless you can prove the LL charged you MORE for some reason other than market forces or economic reasons - charging others LESS is not discrimination against YOU! Presumably you didn't negotiate the rent at the time and were willing to take the property at the advertised rate, so thought it was good value then. Discimination would be if the LL met you, decided that they took exception to something about you (race, colour, religion, gender etc) and decided to only rent you the property if you pay a higher rent because of this. You signed up to pay the rent as advertised, so no issues there.

Have you approached the LL to ask why the discrepancy in rents? Don't wade in playing the racist, sexist, religion card, but there is no harm in asking why the difference. However, you are not due a refund as you have willingly paid this rent for the last 4 years without query, and only now discovering the difference in rent does not qualify you for money back.

TBH, whether you are paying a higher rate or not, if you have rented for 4 years without a rent increase, you are not doing too badly anyway! If you ask too many questions, LL might even increase it ...

ruggedtoast

You moved in some years ago and agreed a rent of £695 per month. An amount you were presumably happy with.

Then other people moved in 2 years later and are paying £100 less.

And you actually believe this is discrimination.

It might be discrimination against your ability to haggle but I can't see you getting very far with a claim.

Do you seriously believe the landlord is diddling himself out of £100 a month per flat specifically to spite you; or is more likely he just couldnt rent those flats for as much as you agreed to pay in 2009?

If you dont like where you live and dont think its worth what you are paying ask for a rent reduction or find somewhere else to live. Rather than leaping to wildly oblique conclusions about someone discriminating against you based on no evidence whatsoever.

demontfort

It’s not discrimination. Yes it’s not fair but life isn’t fair you agreed to pay £695 pcm, If you don’t like it move. When it comes to business the landlord is just trying to squeeze as much cash as possible from his tenants regardless of their ethnicity etc.

I sell bike parts for extra cash and I don’t care who I sell them to as long as I get the best prices possible. If a Chinese guy is willing to pay more for the same part that I sold to a white guy the day before, I’m happy. After all just like your landlord I’m trying to make money not run the United Nations.

Werdnal

ruggedtoast wrote: »

Rather than leaping to wildly oblique conclusions about someone discriminating against you based on no evidence whatsoever.

Ahh but don't we all suspect the OP is hoping to use the D word to frighten the LL into giving them a refund!

Clutching at straws whilst kicking themselves for not researching the market first or haggling before they moved in, now trying to blame the LL for successfully getting 4 years higher rent out of them ...

nobblyned

"When renting accommodation, a private landlord must not discriminate against you because of your disability, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation"

Doesn't mention gullibility.