Can I claim a rent increase in a fix term period?

Ricardo1980

Hello mates,

I’m going to start a small claim against my former landlord because of unfair deposit deductions.

I wonder if I can add another claim there and would like to know your opinion:

I was a lodger and we had a contract that said “fix term period” (for 6 months). Now I know it is illegal to increment the rent in that period (except if you agree). He knew I had no idea about laws (I’m new in this country) and after 4 months, he did it, he incremented the rent in about 10%. As I had no idea, I paid, although I have to say I never agreed explicitly.

Can I claim that? can I add it to my deposit deductions claim?

Thanks a lot for help.

Pixie5740

You did agree explicitly when you started paying the increased rent.

Ricardo1980

That's why I am asking this question, because that's what I suspected.
Can I say in court that I didn't know that detail? Or that there was no objective reason to increment it? Or that the landlord acted in bad faith?

G_M

I'm afraid that legally, what happened was that after 4 months the landlord came to you and requested a rent increase.

You could have said no, and continued to pay the original rent till the 6 month point.

However you agreed to his request and started paying the new rent.

I'm afraid that ignorance of the law, and your rights, does not change anything.

As a comparison, imagine if the police stopped you on the motorway driving at 90 mph. You could say: " I did not know. In my country we can drive at 90 mph on the motorway." But this would not be a valid defence against speeding.

theartfullodger

It is still entirely legal to do some unwise - indeed what some would say is stupid - when you don't need to, and when you could have asked for advice on the matter.