Rent increase who pays for what? think im being taken advantage of?

crunch99

I rent to a landlord via an agency originally i paid £700 per month 6 mth contract, then last year £720 per mth 12mth contract. Now they are increasing the rent to £750 per mth 12mth contract. Is the agent allowed to increase my rent each year? if so by how much? I sent written a email requesting and explanation as to why the increase and to reconsider not increasing it.

I am on universal credit due to disability. I live in 1 of  4 flats ( other 3 are mortgaged I'm the only renter with landlord), there is no property management to maintain grounds and garden ( was cancelled by all flats before i moved in due to no maintenance taking place) so all flats work together for communal areas and off road parking. I maintain one of the front and back gardens as tenant above me doesn't use them. I spend my own money on this including lawn mower et. In the storms the fence panels broke in the front garden which i reported to agent they came out took photos as their was damage to all the property boundary fences they said it was up to the landlord and land owner to fix and absorb costs not me. I haven't heard back but got the rent increase letter.

The fences when i moved in were already in poor condition rotting away. Should the agent raised this with the landlord before i moved in? Can the landlord pass on this cost to me?

The agent has now written back stating the landlord can increase the rent every 12mths but with no explanation. 

Can anyone help?

Slithery

Read...

Rent increases

Countrysider

I'm afraid that if you're out of contract a landlord / agent can increase the rent as much as they like. There are no rent controls in the UK and the best reason or justification you're likely to get is 'strong market conditions'.

In other words: 'because they can'. 

Exodi

crunch99 said:

The agent has now written back stating the landlord can increase the rent every 12mths but with no explanation. 

Can anyone help?

I'm really not sure what help we can give you.

You ask for justification of increases, but I'd say it's no secret rents, and underlying house prices have significantly increased year on year.

A ~4% increase in rent I'd say is generally resonable with all things considered.

I'll be open and admit that I glossed over your details about damage and the like. These are two seperate issues which you should address seperately.

canaldumidi

When a fixed term contract ends, the LL can offer you a new fixed term contract, at whatever rent he wants.

You can then either

* agree, sign and pay the new rent, or

* refuse, serve notice and move out, or

* discuss the rent with the LL, and negotiate a smaller increase, then agree, sign and pay the new, amended rent, or

* stay without signing a new fixed term,and move to a periodic (monthly rolling) tenancy at the old rent.

These posts may help you understand:

Post 4: 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?

Post 5: Rent increases: when & how can rent be increased?

In making you decision, and especially if negotiating the new contract, it is helpful to know what rent other similar local properties are paying. Do some research, print off adverts, and that way you can show your LL he is proposing an unreasonable rent (if he is).

edit: stick to one thread!

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6358798/agent-refuses-to-give-property-owner-details-to-tenant#latest

dimbo61

What does it say in your contract about garden maintenance ?
You Landlord employs a Lettings Agents who charge 10/12/15% plus VAT of the rent.
Did you get a copy of the EICR, EPC, GSC and Deposit information, Prescribed Information etc
BTL mortgage rates have always been higher than normal residential mortgages plus FEES.
Landlord insurance, Fit for habitation, Good homes standards !
Maintenance of the property and sink fund for major repairs like a new roof.
If the other 3 owners don't want to pay for a new fence why should the Landlord have to pay the Full cost !

HRH_MUngo

No-one is obliged to erect any fences.

canaldumidi

If your query is soley about the rent, then the garden information is irrelevant. See my reply above.

If you are asking whether you need to maintain the garden, you need to act in a 'tenant-like' manner and maintain it just as you maintain the flat. Routine maintenance but not structural.

The 2 issues are unrelated.