Landlord wants to raise my rent nearly £200 what to do?

cashmonger

Fuzzyness wrote: »

doesnt sound like you'll find anywhere else as cheap so if you do move out you'll end up paying fees and moving costs and still end up with the same rent to pay anyway. do you like the property you live in?

True and I was lucky to get this city centre apartment since I was on housing benefit from the start (self employed low income). Yea I love the apartment tbh couldnt ask for more- great central location and still quiet and the apartment is just what I want. I had considered moving to the country (back to my roots) but that was for the future. Don't think I'm ready yet. I could move to the student area here for a cheaper place or more suburbs however I don't want to if I can help it. I prefer to pay all my money on rent and be in location I dont have to travel in and out of town.

cashbackproblems wrote: »

Maybe you can negotiate a £100 increase? Do you need to be living in that area/block maybe you can find a cheaper house share with en suite or similar.


Unfortunately the housing market is screwed for people who don't have high paid jobs in this country or living with a partner who also works

Yes I got hit by the benefit cuts for single person under 35 (not complaining though as it motivated me to become self employed).

In the past it has been really hard to get a property from a private landlord when I am on housing benefit so that is a big thing towards staying at this one. Most times when you view a property the estate agent is cordial and as soon as you mention housing benefit no matter how small the amount is they get a condescending look on their face and say they don't accept HB- no dogs, no blacks, no HB! :rotfl:

Wow they also worded the email like it isn't even open for debate

I have been in discussions with the landlord and, after carrying our a rent review, the landlord will be increasing the rent as of the 1st of May.

dobymicks

The other rents might be a bitter lower than you think if they are negotiated down from advertised rents.

I would asked for the £200 increase to be staggered over 2 years, £100 first year and the additional £100 after that.

Good luck

Cakeguts

If this apartment is in a nice block the landlord will not lose a month's rent if you move. He might have to do some decorating to bring it back up to scratch but with that he might get nearer £800 per month so don't rely on that as a reason for not getting an s21. At £800 a month it will only take him about 3 months to make up the difference. You mother's argument only works if the the rent has not fallen a long way behind current rates.

Some people cannot take tenants claiming housing benefit because they need different insurance and some mortgage companies will not allow it. So it isn't always down to the choice of the landlord.

There are leases on apartment blocks that do not allow pets.

The problem that you have is that you have not taken notice of the fact that rents in your block have been rising. You have relied upon your rent staying the same and not taken into account that it could rise. This is not a good idea.

It would be wise to accept that even if you can negotiate a small rent increase this year the rent will go up to market levels over the next couple of years.

The fact that you are now self employed and not as you say doing very well suggests that now might be a good time to move to somewhere cheaper?

hazyjo

We had a post on here recently from a LL who was furious with her agent for hiking up her tenant's rent when she'd not asked them to. They eventually lowered it.


Check your LL has actually authorised this increase. Some LLs are happy to have a lower paying hassle free tenant than risk losing them.


Hopefully you'll all be able to come to an agreement.




Jx

annandale

If you are on a low income and getting wtc and as you said in your initial post that you've just lost all your small income, maybe it's worth considering employment as well as self employment.

Crashy_Time

Which city is this, sounds optimistic pricing on the rent TBH? Are they 2 bedroom flats?

cashmonger

Crashy_Time wrote: »

Which city is this, sounds optimistic pricing on the rent TBH? Are they 2 bedroom flats?

Yes 2 bedroom in machester city centre.

One, in this building, I saw in an an estate agent was being offered for 795 and that is only one bedroom, though like was said above I realise they may put them on for more than they eventually let them at though I doubt by much (ie hundreds different).

Cakeguts

Crashy_Time wrote: »

Which city is this, sounds optimistic pricing on the rent TBH? Are they 2 bedroom flats?

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-rent/property-58781602.html This is Manchester.

Sorry didn't see the above when I posted. Lucky guess at being Manchester.

Crashy_Time

cashmonger wrote: »

Yes 2 bedroom in machester city centre.

One, in this building, I saw in an an estate agent was being offered for 795 and that is only one bedroom, though like was said above I realise they may put them on for more than they eventually let them at though I doubt by much (ie hundreds different).

Hard to believe that a landlord would miss out on 200p.m for 5 or 6 years, are you sure they are all let?

cashmonger

Cakeguts wrote: »

The problem that you have is that you have not taken notice of the fact that rents in your block have been rising. You have relied upon your rent staying the same and not taken into account that it could rise. This is not a good idea.

How have I 'not taken notice' when I said that I have been looking at other properties and noticed their prices rise for a long time. I've been very aware of it but I am not going to go to my landlord and ask him to increase my rent am I. And I never had any spare change to save up so I'm not sure what else you expected me to do.

hazyjo wrote: »

We had a post on here recently from a LL who was furious with her agent for hiking up her tenant's rent when she'd not asked them to. They eventually lowered it.


Check your LL has actually authorised this increase. Some LLs are happy to have a lower paying hassle free tenant than risk losing them.


Hopefully you'll all be able to come to an agreement.




Jx

Well the email for agents said they have agreed upon that based on negotiations with the landlord. I actually feel cheeky asking for it lower since I know it should really be around this price.