70% increase in rent and service charge

rickymicky

Hi I have just received a letter from network housing saying they want to increase my rent and service charge from £268 a month to £453 a month can they do this?


Thanks


Richard

bbk87

What does your agreement state about increases?

rickymicky

it says the rent can go up at rpi + 0.5%
and with regards to the service charge it says they will do their yearly accounts and let you know. Last year I think it went up by only a few pounds so I don't understand how they can justify such a massive increase

Rollingstart

rickymicky wrote: »

it says the rent can go up at rpi + 0.5%
and with regards to the service charge it says they will do their yearly accounts and let you know. Last year I think it went up by only a few pounds so I don't understand how they can justify such a massive increase

The Shelter website is your friend. I assume that you're under an AST.

http://england.shelter.org.uk/get_advice/private_renting/costs_of_renting/private_tenancies

There's also legislation going through parliament at the moment to stop retaliatory evictions that may be of interest.

Personally if it says that in your tenancy, if it were me I would just send a letter saying, thank you for your letter blah blah blah but sadly as per terms of the agreement etc, the rent cannot go up by more than rpi + 0.5% and see what happens next. Send recorded.

G_M

Surely they broke this down? How much has the new rent gone up? How much the serice charge?

As far as rent is concerned, read:

* Rent increases: when & how can rent be increased?

What is the exact wording on service charge? Have you seen the annual account showing how the SC has been spent? Or have you been advised of any major capital costs the SC must cover?