Rent increases

indigoblue11

Thanks everyone

Crashy_Time

indigoblue11 wrote: »

Thanks but I’m not sure I understand the logic with the link.

It shows a landlord putting up the rent and then ending up with an empty property, then going on to philosophise on the reasons for this failure of the business model. The problem may have been avoided by not trying to raise the rent, or maybe so many people will leave that rents will have to be dropped not raised?

silvercar

indigoblue11 wrote: »

I see so from what I’ve read it’s either try and meet them in the middle somewhere. Or leave.

I’ll have a go at meeting them in the middle as I really want to stay.

Has anyone been successful at meeting in the middle?

My son was recently offered an AST renewal with a 3% increase. He emailed a polite reply linking to the latest ONS data showing no change in rents in his region over the last 12 months, making clear that they were eager to sign for another year and hoping that the landlord would feel able to compromise. He suggested a 1% increase, the landlord counter suggested a 1.5% that he agreed to.

I think the key is be polite and back up your arguments.

indigoblue11

So I advised the management company that I would like to negotiate the cost. We had a nice discussions and she’s going to take it away to the landlord and get back to me. That was 2 weeks ago and I’ve heard nothing. Am I responsible for chasing? also talking to other tenants in the building they have seemed to plucked a figure out of thin air. Some people are being increased and some people who are on a rolling month like me are not. There’s no consistency.

Talking to the management company they are saying they could get that rental from another tennant. Which isn’t true as there are over 12 apartments empty in the building.

Can I contact the landlord myself? I feel like something dodgy is going on.

InterestedParty2018

Non-expert advice here...

- Dont chase. You are no better/worse off. You simply continue your rolling contract at the same rent.
- When they do come back to you, present them with the reasons you think a lower increase is more reasonable. (ie other empty flats/voids, going market rents for similar in the area and also harp on about you being a good tenant for the last x years - assuming you have been!)
- Remember, agents fees are percentage based, thus the incentive to get the maximum rent they can. (they too would prefer to not to have to show the property all over again, and have a period of no fees, if they can secure you for their client for a further fixed 12 months.)
- Ideally you want to stay on and have the security of a longer term commitment, so it will be down to negotiation.
- You could ask for landlords details (if you dont already have them from the tenancy agreement and/or the address they use for notices), but some landlords employ an agent for the primary purpose of keeping these negotiations at arms length, so may not want to engage with you directly anyway.

indigoblue11

Thanks for your help