Rent Renewal Contract Offered - then ask for more money?

BoltonCrisis

So a bit of background first...

We moved into the property 6 months ago, and the residence was offered on a 12 month lease.

We had viewed a number of houses, but this was one perfect for us; not too great condition, but nothing a little TLC and elbow grease wouldn't touch up, particularly the garden. The day the contract was offered, the letting agent got in touch and specified that the landlord had revised the lease and now wanted 6 months, as the letting agent informed us this was to allow for a review if we were bad tenants. Naively, we accepted.

Fast forward 6 months, and with a week or two to go before the end of the tenancy, we contacted the letting agent and asked how to proceed with a renewal, requesting 12 months. The letting agency responded and stated that a 12 month term would come with a rent increase of £75 per month.

This was a little frustrating, as we have empty houses on both sides and across the road, some of them vacant for the whole 6 months. Despite the 'market value' not stimulating renters in the surrounding properties, I sympathise with the landlord trying to push the rent closer to the perceived market value. We responded to the text with 'thanks, we'll weigh up our options', expecting a contract to appear in the post/via email.

This never arrived, and when our rent moved into a periodic tenancy I contacted again to ask why the contract wasn't forthcoming, whether we accept the new terms or not?

The LA was apologetic, and secured us a 12 month contract for a little under the original price hike, at £50 increase per month. This had been agreed with the landlord by the LA. I agreed by text and said we were waiting to sign the contract. This contract was sent to me via the 'Goodlord' online service, and I have a copy.

Later that day (Wednesday just passed), the LA called again and said the landlord had now changed their mind, and felt that a 12 month contract should be an increase of £100 per month to reflect 'the market value'. He also said the contract offered was immediately void, and it was the landlords right to revoke before it is signed.

However; the contract is still on the portal. It appears as though I still have the option to sign the agreement, although I haven't yet done so. Personally, I feel as though an agreement had been made (and have proof in the form a contract, albeit as yet unsigned), and upon accepting the agreement the landlord is now changing the terms to 'push their luck', so to speak. What happens if I agree to the £100 increase and get a contract, and then they call back and say it's now £150?

I feel as though I should have some protection against this, but I may be wrong. What are my rights? can I still sign the original contract, and will it be legally binding?

HampshireH

Why dont you stay on a rolling monthly contract rather than renewing to a fixed term?

Alternatively (and you may needto do this anyway if the LL serves notice) seek to view a neighbouring vacant property on a cheaper rent and move. If the move costs less than £1200 ypur aaving by moving

stator

In most situations you are better off moving onto a rolling contract, which you have already done.

Is there a specific reason you want a fixed contract?

I would just stay there and if the landlord tries to raise the rent you can start looking at other places nearby.

gingercordial

My first foray onto this board - three years ago! - was for exactly this. Rent increase offered by the landlord and agreed by us, then before signing they demanded more. I was advised I could not hold them to the original offer without a signature.

We refused to sign, stayed one month on rolling then left and as it happened got the flat across the hall which was bigger for the same money. They put it on the market for lots more, got no takers, begged us to stay (no chance) and we enjoyed watching it sit empty as they kept lowering the rent on RM whilst suffering a void. Eventually they found a new tenant for the old rent we'd been paying before any increases. Serves them right.

So if there are similar properties available I would advise you to stay on rolling and then if they push it, move!

BoltonCrisis

Thanks for the responses so far!

The fixed term monthly was more for the sake of longer term security; well, at least for another 12 months. The Landlord will inevitably try this again if we took at 12 month contract, so we'd be on borrowed time anyway.
The houses nearby that are similar are actually on the market for higher than we pay, hence the Landlord trying to push us towards that. However, we both know those houses have been on that price for at least 6 months with no takers, so they're just wasting everyones time, no one is taking them. We also know that our house was originally on the market for that value, but because no one took it they reduced the rent to attract occupants; which clearly worked. But this is all by-the-by...

I'd really like to know where I stand on the contract that has been offered; I've got a contract here that I'm happy with that I could easily sign, but would it stand up, legally? I'm guessing even if the landlord has already signed their copy of this agreement (which would make sense before offering it to a tenant), they'd just deny having done so and we don't have any proof to the contrary.

stator

You've been told the contract is withdrawn.
An admin error on their part doesn't allow you to bypass their withdrawl of the contract.

Pixie5740

You haven't signed the new tenancy agreement and the landlord isn't going to sign it so it's not yet a legally binding contract and by the sounds of it never will be. Your periodic tenancy and the rent amount you currently pay is a legally binding contract though. Silly, silly landlord.

G_M

Have you read:


* Ending/renewing an AST: what happens when a fixed term ends? How can a LL or tenant end a tenancy? What is a periodic tenancy?

Fosterdog

It would be worth contacting a few landlords of the other vacant properties and offering them the same rent you are now paying as long as you get a 12 month initial tenancy. If they are losing money by having them empty they may well be open to offers, the worst they can do is say no.

nearlynomadic

BoltonCrisis wrote: »

The houses nearby that are similar are actually on the market for higher than we pay, hence the Landlord trying to push us towards that. However, we both know those houses have been on that price for at least 6 months with no takers, so they're just wasting everyones time, no one is taking them. We also know that our house was originally on the market for that value, but because no one took it they reduced the rent to attract occupants; which clearly worked. But this is all by-the-by...

I'd view the other houses nearby, and for the one(s) you like make them an offer - perhaps a little lower than you're paying at the moment so that you can accept a counter-offer. Right now they're receiving £0, so whatever you offer them will be an improvement on that, and they may be willing to accept.

Don't ask, don't get...