Asking for rent reduction

AG47

What is the best way to go about asking for a rent reduction?

We have lived here for 5 years now and the rent hasn't gone down at all in that time.

Meanwhile the average rents around us continue to fall, there are now four empty flats the same as ours in our block all being advertised at lower rents than what we are paying, but we don't really want the hassle of moving if our landlord will match these rents.

These four flats have been on the market for a while and still no takers.

We have a very good record of never being late with the tent and always look after and clean our flat to a high degree. No mold build up or anything like that as many tenants let happen, we clean to a high standard and our landlord knows this. He has called round a few times and we are quite happy for him to come inside and look how clean and tiny we are.

We never ask for new washing machine or fridge freezer or anything like that.

I wish I could ask him to rent direct to us for a lower amount so he saves agency fees and we could have lower rents in this falling environment.

But I don't know how to contact him unless through the agent, I don't have his details, all contact has been through the greedy letting agent.

silvercar

When he next calls round get his contact details. Or you could download the deeds from the Land Registry website for £3 and it should have his address.

parkrunner

AG47 wrote: »

Meanwhile the average rents around us continue to fall, there are now four empty flats the same as ours in our block all being advertised at lower rents than what we are paying, but we don't really want the hassle of moving if our landlord will match these rents.

Where on earth do you live, I want to move there.

G_M

AG47 wrote: »

.......... He has called round a few times and we are quite happy for him to come inside and look how clean and tiny we are.
Tea and cake and a chat next time.

.....


But I don't know how to contact him unless through the agent, I don't have his details, all contact has been through the greedy letting agent.

See:


Landlord & Tenant Act 1985

1 Disclosure of landlord’s identity.

(1)If the tenant of premises occupied as a dwelling makes a written request for the landlord’s name and address to—

(a)any person who demands, or the last person who received, rent payable under the tenancy, or

(b)any other person for the time being acting as agent for the landlord, in relation to the tenancy,

that person shall supply the tenant with a written statement of the landlord’s name and address within the period of 21 days beginning with the day on which he receives the request.

(2)A person who, without reasonable excuse, fails to comply with subsection (1) commits a summary offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale.

(3)In this section and section 2—

(a)“tenant” includes a statutory tenant; and

(b)“landlord” means the immediate landlord.

shortcrust

parkrunner wrote: »

Where on earth do you live, I want to move there.

I think the OP is one of the forum’s property crash doom mongers. I’m not sure it’s a serious thread.

Cakeguts

parkrunner wrote: »

Where on earth do you live, I want to move there.

It is beginning to look like somewhere where there are always a lot of clouds and birds that lay their eggs in other bird's nests?

Crashy_Time

https://www.theguardian.com/money/2019/jan/23/uk-rents-fall-for-first-time-in-a-decade

phillw

Crashy_Time wrote: »

https://www.theguardian.com/money/2019/jan/23/uk-rents-fall-for-first-time-in-a-decade

Wow, a £21 drop. That will take decades to recover.

societys_child

QUOTE: 'Yorkshire records biggest percentage decline but signs emerge rents are rising again'

parkrunner

phillw wrote: »

Wow, a £21 drop. That will take decades to recover.

Plus the average was just £9 or 1.17%, also from the same link,

Landlords said demand from EU nationals had slowed, but insisted rents would have to rise in 2019 to claw back money lost through buy-to-let tax changes and the letting fees ban, which comes into force in June

John Stewart of the Residential Landlords Association said: “Rics has warned that with demand outstripping the supply of rental properties, rents could increase in 2019 by an average of 2%.

AG47

Crashy_Time wrote: »

https://www.theguardian.com/money/2019/jan/23/uk-rents-fall-for-first-time-in-a-decade

Here is my letter to agent

Dear ???????

Could we please ask for a reduction in our rent when our T.A. is due for renewal on May 1st. We are number ?

Numbers 1,2,7&11 are all empty and have been for a while now. They are all struggling to find tenants and for lower rents than we are paying.

Here is number 11 which is a little better than than our flat, and numbers 1&2 have also recently been renovated and are a little nicer than ours and being offered for cheaper rents.

The other flats here that are occupied are also paying les than we are.

We are very happy here, we don't mind not being near a tube station. We would be happy to stay for a long time and would be happy to sign a longer tenancy agreement.

As you can see we have never ever been late paying our rent and we keep the property very clean and well looked after. As we are such good reliable tenants and market conditions in our specific area have changed recently, please could we ask to reduce our rent from £350wk down to £320wk?

We would be very grateful for this and as said are quite happy to sign a longer contract if asked to do so.

Please forward this email to your client the owner of number ?

Yours faithfully