Landlord asking me to part pay for improvements

collis

Hi All,

My landlord has recently offered to improve my homes boiler/heating system from an antiquated back boiler system with a hot water storage tank to a new combi boiler.
Now whilst i accept that a combi boiler is likely to be expensive to have installed initially (grants and scrap value of old equipment aside), this is something that will only ever stay with the house should i ever leave.
My landlord has stated that he would like us to pay part of the cost for this as a "loan" by increasing the rent, however my feelings are that this is neither legal nor fair.

correct me if i am wrong here, however if i agreed to this then in a year moved out of the house (for whatever reason), i would be well within my rights to reclaim this money directly (possibly plus interest).

Do any of you have some advise for me in this matter?

booksurr

the LL is free to increase the rent provided he follows the correct process for so doing,

an increase does not give you any right to reclaim it because you move out even if the increase was "funding" an improvement cost incurred by the LL

WestonDave

Whilst you have a point if its looked at as a loan, the other way of looking at it is that a home with a new efficient heating system is likely to attract a higher rent than one with a knackered old one that costs a fortune in gas. So depending on where you are in your tenancy the alternative for him is to pay for the boiler, give you notice to quit and recover the costs via a higher rent on the next tenant. More or less the same outcome for him (higher rent pays for new boiler) but potentially more hassle for you.

Pixie5740

You're LL is being a twit and over-complicating things. If he wants to install a new boiler in the property that's his call and comes out his pocket (unless he gets some government grants). If he wants to increase your rent, then providing he does it correctly, then that's also his call. The two aren't directly connected and there's no need for a loan from the tenant.

collis

Pixie5740 wrote: »

You're LL is being a twit and over-complicating things. If he wants to install a new boiler in the property that's his call and comes out his pocket (unless he gets some government grants). If he wants to increase your rent, then providing he does it correctly, then that's also his call. The two aren't directly connected and there's no need for a loan from the tenant.

That was my thinking as well.
If he calls it a loan to us then i want that on the tennancy agreement so that i can reclaim the money back as I part paid for it but cant keep it then i want the money for it.
Giving notice for me not wanting to pay for a boiler in his property i'm sure would also be unlawful and open up potential claims

Tyler_Du

Are you in a fixed term or rolling tenancy agreement ?

collis

Tyler_Durden_UK wrote: »

Are you in a fixed term or rolling tenancy agreement ?

bit of both, my 12 month contract (3rd one so far) is coming to the end of it's term soon.

The crux of it is though that i've been offered to leave the boiler as is and he will keep the rent as is, so it's definitely a case of increase for me to pay for improvements to his property. this is a cost that any landlord should meet themselfs and not get a tenant to pay directly.

martinthebandit

So basically your landlord is saying if the rent stays as it is then no new heating system but If he puts a new heating system in then he will have to put the rent up to cover the cost?

Seems fair enough to me.

princeofpounds

These are two totally separate transactions. Deal with them both on a market basis.

1) The LL can keep the rent the same or apply to increase it through the normal channels (new AST or S 13 notice). You are free to agree to the new rent or move out at the end of your current agreement.

2) The LL can choose to install a new boiler or not (as long as the old boiler is still safe). You can choose to leave if a new boiler is not forthcoming, or stay.

Whether you or the LL wants to link 1 + 2 in your OWN thinking is up to you.

princeofpounds

Seems fair enough to me.

It's not fair. There is no concept of fairness here. All that matters is the market value of the rent, and the product that rent is paying for. Do they match up or is there a better deal elsewhere?

Landlords do not operate a cost-plus economic system.

antrobus

Pixie5740 wrote: »

You're LL is being a twit and over-complicating things. If he wants to install a new boiler in the property that's his call and comes out his pocket (unless he gets some government grants). If he wants to increase your rent, then providing he does it correctly, then that's also his call. The two aren't directly connected and there's no need for a loan from the tenant.

Maybe.

Or maybe the landlord knows that this "antiquated back boiler system" is close to the end of its useful life and will need replacing soon anyway, and has devised a cunning plan to get his tenant to pay for it.