Tenancy renewal contract one price, then changed it?

Bear_Billy

Hello,

I received a letter by post for the renewal of the tenancy for the flat I live in. It states the monthly rent of £1195. I was given a month to think whether I wish to continue renting.

After deliberating etc, and when the month's notice was about to expire, I called them to start processing the renewal of the tenancy (I have to pay £80 for that) and they confirmed that the price is £1230. When I told them that I have a letter from them by post a month ago which stated £1195 pcm they checked everything and simply replied: "So sorry for the confusion, it wasn’t clear on the system, but I have rectified it now. The renewal price is £1230."

I am not sure whether I have any rights to argue with them about it? After all I was referring to the price they sent me in the official letter and therefore my judgement was based on the figure which suddenly changed a month later, when I have no more time to deliberate on this. Is it legal? Certainly not fair.

Could I at least ask them to waive the renewal fee of £80 as it was their mistake to give me the wrong renewal pcm in the official document. Do I have any 'threats', so to speak, to throw at them to get some money off?

Thanks!

G_M

Why not let your tenancy go periodic?

Same rent as now and no renewal fee?

Read:

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?)

This may also help:

Rent increases (how and when can rent be changed)

Bear_Billy

Hi GM.

I am not sure this will fly with the estate agent. I am not dealing directly with the landlord so all communication is done via the agent. It is not in their interest and I am also thinking that the landlord will be unimpressed to let without a contract. Am I thinking right?

And is there anything I can do about them giving me a notice with a wrong PCM for the new contract?

Pandilex

The estate agent is trying to fleece you. After 6 months a contract automatically becomes a periodic agreement. Same contract, just the period terms change so 1 month notice can be given by you on the anniversary of the contract date. Everything else is still as legally binding as it was before.

The only thing the estate agent can do if you don't sign is kick you out, which would probably !!!! off the landlord. They must give you 2 months notice to do so.

[Deleted User]

I would recommend contacting the LL to confirm what he/she wants to do, stating that you are confused by the two amounts quoted.

Unfortunately, there are LL's who don't want to let without a tenancy agreement, there are also LL's who take a background seat with LA's and don't question them too much if they say they want to evict a tenant.

I'd protect yourself and contact the LL to find out from him/her what they want.

G_M

Bear_Billy wrote: »

Hi GM.

I am not sure this will fly with the estate agent. I am not dealing directly with the landlord so all communication is done via the agent. It is not in their interest and I am also thinking that the landlord will be unimpressed to let without a contract. Am I thinking right?

And is there anything I can do about them giving me a notice with a wrong PCM for the new contract?

Read the link I gave you.

What on earth do you mean " let without a contract."? Of course you'll have a contract. A SPT.

Read the link.

Bear_Billy

Hi GM,

I read the link.

What I meant is: if I tell the EA that I want an SPT and don't want to pay their stupid fee they would say 'we want you to leave then'. I can try to contact the LL (for whom I have no contact details but the address on the contract) but I suspect she/he will be suspicious about SPT and would also want an FT and to continue to deal with his/her estate agent. So what do I do then?

RAS

Go to the Land Registry and download the details of the flat ownership from there. Costs £3.

SerialRenter

Bear_Billy wrote: »

Hi GM,

I read the link.

What I meant is: if I tell the EA that I want an SPT and don't want to pay their stupid fee they would say 'we want you to leave then'. I can try to contact the LL (for whom I have no contact details but the address on the contract) but I suspect she/he will be suspicious about SPT and would also want an FT and to continue to deal with his/her estate agent. So what do I do then?

You ask, because it cant hurt to ask.

Doing nothing wont solve anything.

nick12

Bear_Billy wrote: »

Hi GM,

I read the link.

What I meant is: if I tell the EA that I want an SPT and don't want to pay their stupid fee they would say 'we want you to leave then'. I can try to contact the LL (for whom I have no contact details but the address on the contract) but I suspect she/he will be suspicious about SPT and would also want an FT and to continue to deal with his/her estate agent. So what do I do then?

If you're a good tenant it's unlikely the LL would want the upheaval of serving notice and thern having to find a new tenant (who would be an unknown quantity). In my experience most LLs are quite relaxed about going onto an SPT. LAs make a big deal of renewing and "needing" an AST because then they get to charge extortionate fees every 6/12 months.

It might be worth trying to contact the LL to get thier view (they might not even know the LA is doing this), either way I'd simply say "thanks but no thanks, I'm quite happy to go onto an SPT" to the agent and perhaps reconsider if you feel the threat of notice becomes more serious.

G_M

Bear_Billy wrote: »

Hi GM,

........ I can try to contact the LL (for whom I have no contact details but the address on the contract) ....

If that is his address, then that is how you can contact him!

If it is 'c/o the agent' (quite possible) then write to the agent, quoting the Landlord & Tenant Act 1985 , and request the LL's actual address"

1 Disclosure of landlord’s identity.

(1)If the tenant of premises occupied as a dwelling makes a written request for the landlord’s name and address to—
(a)any person who demands, or the last person who received, rent payable under the tenancy, or
(b)any other person for the time being acting as agent for the landlord, in relation to the tenancy,
that person shall supply the tenant with a written statement of the landlord’s name and address within the period of 21 days beginning with the day on which he receives the request.
(2)A person who, without reasonable excuse, fails to comply with subsection (1) commits a summary offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale.