Annual increases in rent on our flat

westernpromise

You don't really have much of a negotiating position here unfortunately. If you don't want to pay the rent he can just say "fine, so you're giving notice are you?" and then you have to move.

Your best bet is to do your own research and establish whether you are in fact overpaying or underpaying. If the former then you just present your evidence and offer a lower rent (but no void) or you give notice.

Your landlord sounds a bit greedy but hopefully he's not irrational. I would, personally, renew for a year at 3%, and then do the above, i.e. monitor Rightmove for rents in the area, so that I had some evidence supporting my case for a 0% or even negative rise next time. If it is indeed the case that rents elsewhere are cheaper, then you bite the bullet and move out. He then ends up accepting your offer from someone else but after a void and probably also after having to do things like redecorate. If he's rational he'll keep you there.

I'm a landlord and I never put the rent up during a tenancy unless it's seriously out of whack. If it's not and the tenant is a good payer I just leave things be and adjust when they decide to move on.

byjimini

Like you say, he sounds very "in" on it. Bad for you, good for him.

The best option would be to offer rent in advance so you can bargain with him, he obviously knows what he has is in demand.

Have to say, I let out a loud "WHAAAAT?!" when I saw the figures - it's more than I earn in a year BEFORE tax.

Hope you find a solution, anyhow.