I can't believe this is legal!!!

Sal268

A year ago I moved in to a flat/apartment near the City of Manchester which was advertised as affordable city living. It was part of a scheme owned by the same Landlord and run by the same management company. Ex council properties in the middle of a council estate...you'll see where I am going with this......

A year in, the affordable living label somehow meant that the Landlord could put up the rent in some cases (mine included) by 22% in line with Market Value Rent as brand new apartment blocks have been built have a mile away. The residents tried to fight this and a meeting was held where it was revealed that when people were signing up for the properties the price differed (ie increased) depending on which day you signed up so if you signed up on the Friday this would be a cheaper rent than if you signed up on the Saturday or Sunday!! Surely this can't be right. Obviously the people who signed up early had the largest increase in rent. Is this legal for them to do this as it seems very bizarre and unfair?

Also can the Landlord increase the rent by such a high percentage? And go back on the claim of "affordable city living"

I feel very let down by this as I moved in to my flat after the break up of a 16 year relationship and have really settled in the flat. I am also diagnosed with having Asperger's and Attention Deficit Disorder and although I am highly functioning change cause me great anxiety, stress and emotional upset. Although the Landlord has agreed to step the increase I will not be able to afford to live in the flat in the next 6 months.

Any advise would be greatly appreciated.

dancingfairy

Sadly I suspect they can justify it as a marketing thing unless they are part of an official scheme. You could try and claim it's misleading but I'm not sure who you could complain to and whether you'd get any redress
I would assume that the price at the beginning was similar to a new development in that the price fluctuates based in demand, where in the development the property sits and people's negotiating skills.
It really sucks and seems counter productive to do what they've done though. How does it compare to current market rates? Have prices really increased/ can they justify the new rent?
It might be worth discussing your situation with them and see if you can agree a smaller increase?
Good luck, it sounds like a horrible situation to be in.
Df

stator

What does your tenancy agreement say about rent increases? Exact wording please.

Also, do you think the new rent is 'market rate'. If so then you'll probably just have to pay it. If you think it's above the fair value then you could try appealing the increase but you'll probably be evicted anyway so don't get too hopeful.

thesaint

Move elsewhere.

AdrianC

stator wrote: »

What does your tenancy agreement say about rent increases? Exact wording please.

This is vital.

davidmcn

Does the "affordable" bit derive from a planning obligation? If so then the landlord may have restrictions on what they can do. If it was just advertising blurb then it's meaningless, and you're down to what they can lawfully do depending on the type of tenancy you have, what notices they've served etc.