Rent Increase Questions

olgadapolga

Hi,

I'm renting my house on a periodic tenancy (it was an AST for 12 months but that has expired). The letting agent emailed me today, stating that the landlord wishes to increase the rent.

The exact wording of the email is:

I am writing to advise that the landlord has requested a rent increase from £xx to £yy from 1st May 2015.

Please confirm your agreement to me in writing in the next seven days. Please make arrangements to amend your payment with the bank in time for the 1st May.

I pay my rent monthly, on the first of each month. I received the notice today, on the 21st April. I have looked through my tenancy agreement, which is the original AST, and there is no mention of rent reviews.

Having had a quick look on the internet, I'm of the opinion that the LA is asking me to agree to the increase as opposed to telling me it's going to happen.

Do I have to accept this? Should they have given me a month's notice?

Thanks in advance for any advice

jjlandlord

You're right, despite the directive wording, this is just a proposal.

If the proposal is in line with the market, though, the could serve you with the required notice, which will require a month notice and be binding.

molerat

One month notice is required.
You must agree the rent increase unless the agreement states otherwise.
If you do not agree the increase the LL can issue a S13 which will increase the rent or a S21.

olgadapolga

Okay, so I could agree to it but ask for a month's notice (so it would run from June, not May)?

jjlandlord

You are free to make a counter-proposal, of course.

Vestra

A few years ago I had a proposed rent increase, it was above the market rate so I emailed a few links to similar properties. We were then able to negotiate somewhere in between.