tenancy agreement renewal

m567

Hello,
we've moved in a flat 4 years ago. rent has been increasing every year from 1100, to 1125 to 1185 to 1200 pcm

The landlord company claims the average rent in the area for our sort of flat is 1500 if they re let to someone else. They have sent us contract with 1300 pcm.

We have been stable tenants and payment has never been a problem.

How can one approach this? I've already highlighted our 'stability' and have offered 1250, to which they've come back with the 1500 number.

Is there a site with such recent statistics?
At this stage, I would try a return with 1275.
There is no limit to the amount of increase they can ask for, I suppose.

jk0

IIWY, I would not sign any new tenancy agreements, then your rent continues at £1200 pcm.

If they are daft enough to evict a paying tenant, let them.

m567

well there is indeed a demand, from what I can see. about 5/6 tenants have changed in the building and the flats don't remain empty.

BitterAndTwisted

You need documentary evidence that the rent they are asking for is more than comparable flats in the same neighbourhood. Try RightMove.

One other consideration is that if they do force you to move because of a hefty rent-increase the landlord will be faced with a substantial tenant-finding fee from their letting-agent and could very likely suffer a void-period between tenancies. These two things are very likely to prove more expensive than that increase. It might be worth pointing this out to the landlord.

In fact, if you wanted to be awkward you could quite legally guarantee a void-period.

m567

the landlord is a company itself. Rightmove ask prices are in line with what the landlord claims.
historically, there has been a void period of only 1 week of flats in the buildings in my area.

In terms of being awkward, even if I wanted to, I don't have anywhere else to live with my family. I wouldn't gain anything.

What i want is to stay in the flat, and convince them to go for something like 1250

ValHaller

jk0 wrote: »

IIWY, I would not sign any new tenancy agreements, then your rent continues at £1200 pcm.

There are processes for raising rent without signing a new tenancy agreement. In the ultimate, resistance can result in a S21

dancingfairy

How much would it cost you to move and what could you get? that's what you need to consider.
You can:
1) sign a new tenancy agreement
2) try and negotiate and sign a new agreement
3) not sign a new tenancy agreement and go on to a rolling periodic tennancy. the landlord then has to serve the correct paperwork to increase the rent or they may decide to just serve you your notice.


df

Turnbull2000

Depends where you are. If London or SE, the pretty much have you over a barrel. Perhaps consider yourself fortunate your rent has been relatively stable for those four years.

London/SE Rents are likely to see strong growth of up to 30% between now and 2016, so ensure you can budget accordingly.

G_M

Can't advise on tactics, but in terms of your rights:

Ending/Renewing an AST (what happens when the Fixed Term ends?)(What is a Periodic Tenancy?)(How can a LL remove a tenant?)(How can a tenant end a tenancy?)


Rent increases (how and when can rent be changed)