Rental increase

sweetpotato

Hi,

I haven't posted for a while but could do with some advice, please!

We rent a home from my Aunt, we have lived here for 6 years 2 months (if it helps we never missed a payment).

We were advised this week that the rent was increasing from £473.81 to make our monthly rent now £563.33. (£109.34 to £130 per week)

I have no issue with the rent increasing, I understand that things go up in price and I understand that previous monthly rental figures were to our advantage, I would also like to add we can afford the increase but am still a little aggrieved by it...

They came and told us they were increasing this and told us it was because we were paying under market value

When we rented out the home it wasn't in a market value condition it had no wallpaper / paint in the bedrooms and they expected us to plaster the them (we did), the kitchen and bathroom had a threadbare carpet, they had replaced the benches in the kitchen and left the old tiles in place meaning when they ripped out the old benches all of the tiles broke and were jagged along the bottom edge. The porch floor was tiled 2 of these were smashed. It had no smoke alarm (we fitted one)

We have painted throughout (about three times over the time we have lived here so it is in brilliant condition), added new floors throughout, tiled the kitchen, retiled the porch floor and put decked area in the back garden.

When we had no heating and no hot water in January and a 8 week old baby they made us do without for three days because they wouldn't pay the call out charge over the weekend.

They took three years of constant reminders to fix a leak in the garage roof

We have had two gas checks in this time (even though I regularly ask).

I still maintain that the house is only now in a market value rental condition because we have put in the work to go that, if we hadn't they wouldn't be able to ask for market value.

The reason I am posting is to find out what we can do from the position of most of the maintence we took care of ourselves and let things be more relaxed (plus it's also my Aunt and I do feel awkward about asking and chasing for things to be done).... if we are now paying market value is it fair to ask the landlord to undertake repairs that we would have normally picked up and going forward how can I make sure these are done in a reasonable time? As a tenant what should I be doing from a repairs / maintenance point of view or should I be asking my landlord to do this?

Thanks in advance.

HappyMJ

If you leave you'll lose the benefit of what you've spent on the property so either pay the increase or leave. You aren't entitled to any of what you've spent on the property back.

Some landlord as in your case allow the tenants to paint and decorate at their own cost but you cannot expect a refund of what you've spent.

You should be doing things such as unblocking drains and changing light bulbs. You should keep the place clean and ventilated to avoid mould from condensation. You should change the batteries in the smoke alarm or replace it yourself if it's one of those sealed ones.

The landlord must carry out gas safety checks every year. The landlord has to fix the leaky roof on any habitable room. The garage may not count.

Either party can replace the carpet, paint and wallpaper the walls and replace the tiles. The landlord can choose to leave it all as is they don't have to do any of it. You chose to do it with the landlords permission so that's fine.

The landlord doesn't have to call a gas engineer out the minute you call and report a problem. It can be as soon as an engineer is available on a weekday and if that's 3 days that's fine. The landlord should if requested provide an alternative source of heating and hot water. An electric heater and a large (not a 1.7L) kettle might just be enough for a few days.

It sounds like you like the place so I'd pay the increased rent and do no further work apart from the odd maintenance job here and there.

Pixie5740

Just because you are renting a place from a relative doesn't mean to say the landlord can be lax about things like gas safety certificates (I hope you have a working CO alarm) and repairs.

You've chosen to sink your own money into repairing and decorating a rental property but from now on whenever repairs or maintenance are required ask the landlord, in writing if necessary, to carry out the work. Not paying for maintenance and repairs is supposed to be one of the benefits of renting.

I will say that only 3 days without a boiler means that it was repaired within a reasonable timeframe so you don't have cause for complain there even if it was January and you had an 8 week old baby.

sweetpotato

Thanks both, I should point out I wasn't asking for any money back for maintaining the house. We will be staying like I mentioned and can afford the increase I just wanted to know what the minimum we are required to do and vice versa.

No CO alarm, so I will ask for one of those, and I now know what is required so thanks

HappyMJ

sweetpotato wrote: »

Thanks both, I should point out I wasn't asking for any money back for maintaining the house. We will be staying like I mentioned and can afford the increase I just wanted to know what the minimum we are required to do and vice versa.

No CO alarm, so I will ask for one of those, and I now know what is required so thanks

A CO alarm is not required unless the house is a HMO which yours isn't. Your landlord can refuse the request but you're welcome to buy one yourself.

sweetpotato

Sorry just re-read the reply meaning because I don't have regular safety checks the poster hopes I had a working CO alarm - apologies slightly too early for my brain this morning!

I will not be asking for a CO alarm but will invest in one myself!

DaftyDuck

But do insist on annual gas safety checks. In future, I'd get maintenance from your landlord. If you are actually paying market value, you might find it easier to argue if not renting from a relative.

HappyMJ

sweetpotato wrote: »

Sorry just re-read the reply meaning because I don't have regular safety checks the poster hopes I had a working CO alarm - apologies slightly too early for my brain this morning!

I will not be asking for a CO alarm but will invest in one myself!

I'm not stopping you asking for one..Ask away you never know you might get one just don't expect one.

What you can do is demand the gas safety certificate is renewed each year. I doubt you'll do anything to get Aunty in trouble but you can still demand she gets that done.