My rent is higher than 2 bed houses in London! What can I do?

Ella87

Hi,

I have a serious query regarding my rent on my one bedroom housing association flat in Watford, Hertfordshire.

My rent amount increases every 3-4 months and is more expensive than 2 bedroom houses in central London and even other properties in the area under the same housing association.

I'm fuming about this because I don't believe it's right.

My rent is broken down with service charges and maintenance costs included yet they haven't decorated or repaired any of the communal areas since I moved in and it was first built.

My rent currently sits at £126 per week

The two bedroom properties in this block pay £128 and also have a balcony.

How does this work out, I'm paying more than London when I'm 20 miles out of London.

Is there anyone I can go to to investigate this?

How do I work out if they are within reason and law?

Thanks

marleyboy

You could always upgrade to a two bedroom house and thus lower the rent.

[Deleted User]

I an not sure where you get the information that you are paying more than a two bed property in London.

Perhaps you are paying an affordable rent charge rather than social rent? I have noticed in my area (Gravesend) a lot of HA properties are offered at affordable rent rates rather than social housing rent rates, and obviously they are far more expensive. I saw one 2 bed flat for £200 a week, and it was in a very bad area, so I'm not even sure how that is classed as affordable rent as it was about the same as full private rent charges.

First of all I'd query if you are on affordable rent or social housing rent. I think you need to speak to your housing officer in the housing association. Perhaps you could get a transfer?

dacouch

There are very few if any 2 bedroom rental properties in central london for £126 per week.

They would more likely be a minimum of £300 a week

Old_Git

upgrade to a two bed and get a logger .

AlexMac

Old_Git wrote: »

upgrade to a two bed and get a logger .

Good advice, but where do you find a lumberjack when you need one? ... shades of Monty Python (for our younger viewers, Monty Python's LJ choir were a popular beat combo, m'lud)

andyuk01

House shares in West Watford seem to be between £110 - £140 a week, studios around £140 and flats from £170

£124 pw seems like a pretty good deal

Pixie5740

I wish my rent was only £126 a week and I don't live in London, or even England for that matter, and I rent a flat not a house.

OP, what does your tenancy agreement say about the amount of you rent you have to pay and rent increases? All the information you need should be in there but if it is not then contacting your landlord to explain how your rent is calculated would be the next move.

Enterprise_1701C

What does your rent include? You say it includes service and maintenance charges, does it include water and other things?

Just that it is very unusual for rent to increase every 3-4 months, there is normally an annual increase.

ognum

Ella87 wrote: »

Hi,

I have a serious query regarding my rent on my one bedroom housing association flat in Watford, Hertfordshire.

My rent amount increases every 3-4 months and is more expensive than 2 bedroom houses in central London and even other properties in the area under the same housing association.

I'm fuming about this because I don't believe it's right.

My rent is broken down with service charges and maintenance costs included yet they haven't decorated or repaired any of the communal areas since I moved in and it was first built.

My rent currently sits at £126 per week

The two bedroom properties in this block pay £128 and also have a balcony.

How does this work out, I'm paying more than London when I'm 20 miles out of London.

Is there anyone I can go to to investigate this?

How do I work out if they are within reason and law?

Thanks

Ella

You have not included enough information for anyone to make a constructive comment.

What is included in you rent? Service charge? Utilities? Council tax?

Which housing association?

How long have you lived there?

Do you live alone?

What size is the flat, what other amenities does it have? parking?

Are you on some benefits?

What date were the rent rises, how much were they for?

If you could answer any of these rather than just being angry and getting replies t hat rents are as expensive elsewhere we may be able to help.

Shelldean

Just looked at two beds round here not central London just a suburb of London, but still a London borough.

And the cheapest two bed currently on offer is £225 pw. As we're a fair way out I can only presume the rent levels will increase as you move closer to central London.

Where are you getting your figures from?