Rental Increase - Advice please

Debt_Free_Chick

roguebrogue wrote: »

To be honest I'm not entirely sure what the market rent is....I don't know of the prices for similar flats in this building, I've only seen the penthouses for rent.
But 1 bed flats around here (cardiff) are usually £500 - £550 depending on the quality...

Have a mooch on Rightmove.

roguebrogue

Debt_Free_Chick wrote: »

Have a mooch on Rightmove.

Yeah that's where I got my estimates from...

movilogo

Can landlord increase the rent as and when s/he wishes?

silvercar

Two months notice and only when the contract comes up for renewal.

roguebrogue

Yeah, we are on a one month rolling contract so they could do it every two months if they wanted to (Hope not though!)

IveSeenTheLight

roguebrogue wrote: »

My only concern is that they will serve us notice. I love this flat and the location and there's not much available round here.
quote]

Open up a dialogue with the landlord.
I'm sure you can get these things fixed quite cheaply and quickly and I'm sure the landlord will let you.
It is the landlords requirement to maintain the property, however if you are willing to get repaired and try to get a re-imbursement from the landlord then try to do this.

I would be a little concerned for you that the landlord (if they are not quick to sort your problems or maintain their property) could use any damage at the end of your tenancy for withholding your deposit i.e.

1. The bathroom door handle was fitted to the door at the start of the tenancy
2. The blinds in the living room and bedroom were fitted and functioning correctly at the start of the tenancy
3. Any other repair issues ongoing.

It may be as you have stated that the landlord is hard to get hold of. They may be out of the country.

Do you pay your rent to the landlord directly or to the LA?
If it is to the LA then they have the responsibility for the repairs, especially for this small amount

I assume the landlord / LA is offering you a new tenancy contract?
If so, how long for? If it is 6 months and you are willing to ask them for 1 year then by extending the new contract you tie the new rent down for during the term of the lease.

Good Luck

IveSeenTheLight

roguebrogue wrote: »

Yeah, we are on a one month rolling contract so they could do it every two months if they wanted to (Hope not though!)

No they can't.
If they are changing the rent then they are changing the terms of your contract meaning you should be getting a new 6 month or 1 year contract.
They will not be able to change the rent within the term of the contract

roguebrogue

They mentioned nothing in the letter of a new contract, they just said to reply in writing if we accept and then to adjust the payments accordingly.

We pay the rent to the LA.

silvercar

A landlord can change the rent payable without the replacement of the existing tenancy agreement. The landlord should use the form "Landlord's notice proposing a new rent under an assured periodic tenancy of premises situated in England" (or the equivalent form in Wales). This would be a change of terms without the replacement of the existing AST agreement.

AFAIK the landlord can increase the rent at the end of a fixed term contract or, for periodic contracts, once a year.

roguebrogue

silvercar wrote: »

A landlord can change the rent payable without the replacement of the existing tenancy agreement. The landlord should use the form "Landlord's notice proposing a new rent under an assured periodic tenancy of premises situated in England". This would be a change of terms without the replacement of the existing AST agreement.

AFAIK the landlord can increase the rent at the end of a fixed term contract or, for periodic contracts, once a year.

So, sorry if I'm being slow, is that form something we should have, or something the LA should have from the landlord?

I'm not sure whether I'd want a new contract or not, part of me likes the fact that if happen to find another flat we want then we can move out with one months notice, but of course there's the secruity of a contract meaning we're not going to get chucked out for a certain amount of time.