Am I Paying Too Much Rent?

Guest101

Smodlet wrote: »

I disagree, Guest101, this applies in many, if not most places; everything is relative and your experience, however valid, is not universal.

Certainly not universal (I said that) it is however, typical.


Whilst there are situation as you've described, the vast majority of people don't find themselves in those shoes.

Smodlet

I respect your opinion, Guest101 and it is the minority who suffer the worst about whom we hear the most. This does not alter the fact that, for many, things are tough and becoming tougher every day, it seems.

No-one should have to spend 50+% of their income on rent, it is just not right, nor have to top up their rent because the very benefit designed to cover it no longer does. No-one should have to decide between heating and eating because rents are so high. It is my opinion that rent control is long overdue in this country, just my opinion.

Guest101

Smodlet wrote: »

I respect your opinion, Guest101 and it is the minority who suffer the worst about whom we hear the most. This does not alter the fact that, for many, things are tough and becoming tougher every day, it seems.

No-one should have to spend 50+% of their income on rent, it is just not right, nor have to top up their rent because the very benefit designed to cover it is no longer does. No-one should have to decide between heating and eating because rents are so high. It is my opinion that rent control is long overdue in this country, just my opinion.

In theory I agree with some of what you say.


I don't like the benefit culture, it was implemented to help people in the short term and has now become a lifestyle choice (which most are too afraid to criticise!)


However I do think people should take ownership of their situations, there are plenty of places where it's possible to live on NMW, or even on basic benefits, without having to top up.


People are often stubborn and refuse to even consider relocating, and I don't see why private landlords should have to support the social housing crisis.


We live in a free market economy, LLs wouldn't charge extortionate rents if the market wasn't driving it.


Things are very tough, but I don't think molly coddling the public has any long term success.


People need to take responsibility for their lives, if you cant afford to live in X, you're going to have to move to Y. Sorry but you go where the work is, where the homes are etc. etc.

G_M

theartfullodger wrote: »

NB The key section of Housing Act 1988 about getting rents reduced is s22...
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/50/section/22

22 Reference of excessive rents to rent assessment committee.

(1)Subject to section 23 and subsection (2) below, the tenant under an assured shorthold tenancy may make an application in the prescribed form to a rent assessment committee for a determination of the rent which, in the committee’s opinion, the landlord might reasonably be expected to obtain under the assured shorthold tenancy.

Applies :

a) in the 1st 6 months of a tenancy
b) in a Statutory Periodic Tenancy where landlord has servd a S13 Notice

Neither seems to apply in this case.

cloo

Plenty of landlords don't blink at putting rent up £50-100 a month, so £20 is really a drop in the ocean.

I think some LLs do just put the rent up because 'that's what landlords do', and did to them when they rented (or if they still rent). I put my rent up twice in the early years of letting my former home, as I started well under market rate and got it to the lower end of that. A couple of years later I enquired about raising it again on a Landlords' web forum, as in how much would be reasonable (because, amateur that I was, I presumed landlords just raise rent every year or two), and I was told in no uncertain terms that unless I'd done some major work like total redecoration, a new kitchen or bathroom, I had no business putting the rent up at all.

Rental income shouldn't go up a lot 'just because' or if the LL's own expenses increase (I didn't raise mine when I had kids and my life costs increased massively), but this is one of the consequences of having a very amateur, unregulated landlord market.

Guest101

cloo wrote: »

Plenty of landlords don't blink at putting rent up £50-100 a month, so £20 is really a drop in the ocean.

I think some LLs do just put the rent up because 'that's what landlords do', and did to them when they rented (or if they still rent). I put my rent up twice in the early years of letting my former home, as I started well under market rate and got it to the lower end of that. A couple of years later I enquired about raising it again on a Landlords' web forum, as in how much would be reasonable (because, amateur that I was, I presumed landlords just raise rent every year or two), and I was told in no uncertain terms that unless I'd done some major work like total redecoration, a new kitchen or bathroom, I had no business putting the rent up at all.

Rental income shouldn't go up a lot 'just because' or if the LL's own expenses increase (I didn't raise mine when I had kids and my life costs increased massively), but this is one of the consequences of having a very amateur, unregulated landlord market.

I think you may be confusing your expense with 'landlord' expenses.


If the ground rent or service charge went up, then an increase would be perfectly acceptable.


If you had another child, it's still perfectly acceptable, but it's a personal expense.

Smodlet

No, Guest101, it is not "perfectly acceptable" for an LL to raise rent because he or she has had a child, otherwise any employee would be within their rights to request a pay rise for the same reason. As for the moving to where you can afford to live, not that it's any of yours but - designed the T-shirt.

G_M

cloo wrote: »

.... A couple of years later I enquired about raising it again on a Landlords' web forum, as in how much would be reasonable (because, amateur that I was, I presumed landlords just raise rent every year or two), and I was told in no uncertain terms that unless I'd done some major work like total redecoration, a new kitchen or bathroom, I had no business putting the rent up at all.

Strange advice. Which forum was it and how many posters gave you this message?

A list of relevant factors in your decision might include

* improvements made to the property
* market rents in the area
* desirability of keeping the current tenants
* likely void length if the tenants left
* length of time tenants have lived there, and time since last rent increase

There may be other factors that would influence your decision.

itchyfeet123

Guest101 wrote: »

People need to take responsibility for their lives, if you cant afford to live in X, you're going to have to move to Y. Sorry but you go where the work is, where the homes are etc. etc.

The problem with that is often rents/house prices are correlated with job availability. Is it better to struggle to pay exorbitant rent when you have a job you like, or to struggle to pay modest rent when you have no job?

AdrianC

itchyfeet123 wrote: »

The problem with that is often rents/house prices are inversely correlated with job availability. Is it better to struggle to pay exorbitant rent when you have a job you like, or to struggle to pay modest rent when you have no job?

If only somebody would invent a way to live in one area and work in another, without having to walk between them.