Landlord/agents trying to push me onto a fixed term tenancy along with rent increase and £150 admin

cashmonger

Here is their response

From review, we are able to confirm that you signed a tenancy agreement on 30th May 2017 with <redacted>. On 27th September 2017, Our client purchased the property with you being a tenant in situ and at the same time, we took over the management as asset managers to the client. You were issued a Section 48 on 4th October 2017 advising of the change of ownership.

As we are the asset management company for the property, we work on behalf of our client (the landlord) to provide them a good investment. All of our clients wish for a model tenant in their property for longevity of the tenancy and at the same time, a rental increase. Costs are always increasing for your landlord and at the same time are increasing for you. We initially assess the properties and the tenancy. We can see that you have been a responsible tenant which is why the client is happy to renew with you.

By renewing your tenancy, this provides yourself and the landlord security for a further 12 month fixed period. This new tenancy agreement will be up to date with all the new laws and legislations.

If a tenant requests the landlords address formally, we have 21 days to provide you with this. If you would like to request this on a separate email, we will action this accordingly. If you do request this, we have to advise that apart of our service is to deal everything for the client and is possible that you may not receive a response from the landlord.

We have provided you with a full written response. However, we do believe that sometimes is best to deal with matters like this over the phone. We would welcome this and be happy to arrange a call with a manager.

Please provide us with your confirmation that you wish to renew your tenancy with us.

Many thanks and we look forward to hearing from you.

So they are saying they want another email in order to 'action' their giving me the landlord's address? It was clear that my last email was the one requesting it so why are they saying that? wanting to buy time or something? or like they want to call the shots like I should have to send them another email for it to 'count' just because they said so?

And they seem so eager for me to talk on the phone. Sounds like they want to give the hard sell over the phone thinking I might be more easily manipulated into agreeing to something that way I guess?

Advise on the next move?

G_M

"Thank you for your helpful email today.



As you request, I refer you back to mine of xx/xx/19 requesting my landlord's address. I do, of course, understand perfectly that it it up to the landlord whether or not to respond directly to any communication I might make.



With regards to the tenancy renewal from 30th May (is that when it expires?), I would re-iterate that I am happy with the property, and with my current tenancy. I believe and hope that the landlord is equally happy with me as a long-standing, reliable tenant.



Under the current tenancy, once periodic, both I and the landlord will have the protections and duties of all new laws and legislations, and I trust this will form the basis of a long-standing relationship into the future.

onwards&upwards

G_M wrote: »

"Thank you for your helpful email today.



As you request, I refer you back to mine of xx/xx/19 requesting my landlord's address, which means the last date for compliance is 21 days after that request on xx/xx/19.

I do, of course, understand perfectly that it it up to the landlord whether or not to respond directly to any communication I might make.



With regards to the tenancy renewal from 30th May (is that when it expires?), I would re-iterate that I am happy with the property, and with my current tenancy. I believe and hope that the landlord is equally happy with me as a long-standing, reliable tenant.



Under the current tenancy, once periodic, both I and the landlord will have the protections and duties of all new laws and legislations, and I trust this will form the basis of a long-standing relationship into the future.

I would be tempted to add in the bolder I think.

cashmonger

G_M wrote: »

"Thank you for your helpful email today.



(is that when it expires?)

And thanks for your helpful reply

No that is when it started with the original ones who made the building who I mentioned earlier so they are just referring to the original TA I signed when I moved in.

It was from that date for 6 months with them then the new (current agents) extended it for another 6 automatically when they took it over and been on rolling for however long after that 1st year.

G_M

sorry - I didn't read back the history. Yes - I see you are on a periodic already. So


"With regards to the tenancy renewal, I would re-iterate that I am happy with the property, and with my current periodic tenancy. I believe and hope that the landlord is equally happy with me as a long-standing, reliable tenant.

Under the current tenancy, both I and the landlord have the protections and duties of all new laws and legislations, and I trust this will form the basis of a long-standing relationship into the future."

daphnemoon

cashmonger wrote: »

Hah nice. You called their bluff. But how long ago was it? How do you know they aren't just circling the horses for another attack in the likes of section 13 or 21?

I guess that most agents expect you to fold like the girl earlier in the thread did for fear of losing their flat.

Just in case I am the "girl earlier in the thread" - I didn't fold at all, I've explained to the LA that the new rent will put us into financial difficulties and asked for it not to be raised. But we won't be taking the rent increase to the tribunal, which was my initial response!!

But we have not signed a new tenancy and have told the LA we will not be doing so.

We will pay the increased rent if we have to but will not be pressured into signing a new tenancy and are basically expecting a Section 21 at any point!

So no caving in here!! :rotfl:

cashmonger

daphnemoon wrote: »

Just in case I am the "girl earlier in the thread" - I didn't fold at all, I've explained to the LA that the new rent will put us into financial difficulties and asked for it not to be raised. But we won't be taking the rent increase to the tribunal, which was my initial response!!

But we have not signed a new tenancy and have told the LA we will not be doing so.

We will pay the increased rent if we have to but will not be pressured into signing a new tenancy and are basically expecting a Section 21 at any point!

So no caving in here!! :rotfl:

That is good to hear .

Actually in line with what I was thinking ie I am not totally averse to a rent increase (although I would prefer not have to have one ) particularly I just don't want it to only have been motivated by the greedy agents wanting some false reason to wrangle a contract and fees.

How are your agents sounding about the matter so far, what have their recent responses been like? Good to hear how others are getting on in similar positions.

cashmonger

G_M wrote: »

sorry - I didn't read back the history. Yes - I see you are on a periodic already. So


"With regards to the tenancy renewal, I would re-iterate that I am happy with the property, and with my current periodic tenancy. I believe and hope that the landlord is equally happy with me as a long-standing, reliable tenant.

Under the current tenancy, both I and the landlord have the protections and duties of all new laws and legislations, and I trust this will form the basis of a long-standing relationship into the future."

Right, I will send that off in a bit but I am wondering now what should I send to the LL once I actually have their details?

As I said in the last response above, I am not totally against a rent increase, I will pay it rather than move out, but rather not pay it if that was an option ; but I am against a contract since it is pointless except for lining the agent's pockets considering I and LL had been going along fine on SPT all this time already and totally against paying the admin fees. So wondering how to best word such.

I am thinking maybe I do not want to push too hard about not having the rent increase because sooner or later the LL would want one wouldn't they and maybe they might think if I were to dig my heels in now I would always be doing so and they might feel that they might as well rip the plaster off earlier than later even at the expense of chucking me out.

So I wouldn't want to get on the wrong side of them just because of that as I feel that is understandable they might want a modest increase as they would always be feeling they are being underpaid if other properties are going for more what is being suggested (which they are as I checked).

On the other hand I find the admin fees totally unacceptable and also I don't want to be in a contract if I can at all help it - which from what you all say is not necessary at all.

So should I mention I would negotiate the rent at all in the message I tell them or not? I am thinking if it wasn't their idea then maybe I shouldn't bring it up at all but on the other hand I imagine the LAs must have informed the LL they planned to get a rent increase out of me by now as I imagine they would be messaging/phoning them with updates as they got responses from me.

It is possible the LL has been kept in the dark but no way to know that.

warby68

For the sake of £20 pm after 2/3 years, I would show willing by offering to accept that amount as a rent increase subject to the appropriate formality, which you understand to be Form whatever and not a full new contract.

Restate you are happy with the periodic.

Ask the agent to confirm explicitly that your response has been conveyed to the landlord.

Landlord may see your acceptance of the rent increase as enough to go with the flow on the periodic issue.

Personally, I wouldn't overcomplicate or try to win a battle of wills with the agent by long communications. Keep it simple.

PS a disclaimer, I have no recent experience of rental market but do have plenty in negotiations around price. Price often comes first.

cashmonger

Hmm so I should tell it to the agents themselves then? What are other's views?

warby68 wrote: »

For the sake of £20 pm after 2/3 years, I would show willing by offering to accept that amount as a rent increase subject to the appropriate formality, which you understand to be Form whatever and not a full new contract.

Restate you are happy with the periodic.

Ask the agent to confirm explicitly that your response has been conveyed to the landlord.

Landlord may see your acceptance of the rent increase as enough to go with the flow on the periodic issue.

Personally, I wouldn't overcomplicate or try to win a battle of wills with the agent by long communications. Keep it simple.

PS a disclaimer, I have no recent experience of rental market but do have plenty in negotiations around price. Price often comes first.