Do estate agents get you to sign a 12 month tenancy once your first 12 months is done?

kmb500

elsien said:

If they’re not maintaining the property  why do you want to stay there?

Think you got the wrong end of the stick, I'm not saying it's in disarray and they should be paying for repairs, I'm just saying it doesn't cost them anything to maintain.

It's a nice house and nice place to be. I am currently thinking I'll move before next winter, as the heating bill is just massive here. I wrote to the landleech to ask them if they would consider improving the insulation (we are EPC rating: E) as the law in 2025 will be rental houses need to be EPC rating C. Never had a reply.

If the rent goes up in May then I'll move in May or as soon as I can. If not then I'd stay through the summer. In our village there is not exactly a huge range of properties to choose from (and my housemate needs to live in this village, hence we chose to get a house here)

macman

How do you work out it costs them 'nothing to maintain'?
Have you considered: buildings insurance, contents insurance (if furnished), landlord insurance, annual GSC, EICR, EPC, Letting Agent's commission (if managed), LL licensing (if in a compulsorily licensing area), inventory/checkout charges, credit referencing?
Probably some others I can't remember...
If there is no ongoing maintenance during your tenancy, then doesn't that indicate that your LL is on top of the job of keeping it in good order, with the exception of the insulation, which may not be economically feasible? Many older houses have an E EPC rating.

propertyrental

Read

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?

lesalanos

kmb500 said:

elsien said:

If they’re not maintaining the property  why do you want to stay there?

Think you got the wrong end of the stick, I'm not saying it's in disarray and they should be paying for repairs, I'm just saying it doesn't cost them anything to maintain.

It's a nice house and nice place to be. I am currently thinking I'll move before next winter, as the heating bill is just massive here. I wrote to the landleech to ask them if they would consider improving the insulation (we are EPC rating: E) as the law in 2025 will be rental houses need to be EPC rating C. Never had a reply.

If the rent goes up in May then I'll move in May or as soon as I can. If not then I'd stay through the summer. In our village there is not exactly a huge range of properties to choose from (and my housemate needs to live in this village, hence we chose to get a house here)

There is no law at the moment changing EPC requirements in 2025

ayupmeduck

I never signed a new one until this year. Moved in in 2015.

LegallyLandlord

As others have said, you can’t be forced to sign another fixed term tenancy, but the landlord does have the right to increase the rent. Most landlords increase rents by less than inflation to existing tenants (the landlord association says the average increase to continuing tenants is around 3%) 

benefits of fixed term: you know you will not be asked to leave for that period

benefits of rolling: you can terminate at any time with one month’s notice. 

Downside of rolling: landlord can terminate with 2 months notice. 

I give my tenants the choice of moving to a rolling periodic or another fixed term. This year I increased rents by only 2%. 

Most landlords are not leeches but are ordinary people running a business that involves providing housing to people who can’t afford to buy or who don’t want to buy. Unfortunately it’s just the rogues that you hear about. The rest of us concentrate on being good landlords, which means looking after our renters and our properties 

kmb500

LegallyLandlord said:

As others have said, you can’t be forced to sign another fixed term tenancy, but the landlord does have the right to increase the rent. Most landlords increase rents by less than inflation to existing tenants (the landlord association says the average increase to continuing tenants is around 3%) 

benefits of fixed term: you know you will not be asked to leave for that period

benefits of rolling: you can terminate at any time with one month’s notice. 

Downside of rolling: landlord can terminate with 2 months notice. 

I give my tenants the choice of moving to a rolling periodic or another fixed term. This year I increased rents by only 2%. 

Most landlords are not leeches but are ordinary people running a business that involves providing housing to people who can’t afford to buy or who don’t want to buy. Unfortunately it’s just the rogues that you hear about. The rest of us concentrate on being good landlords, which means looking after our renters and our properties 

Thanks for the info.

Mutton_Geoff

kmb500 said:

Landleeches are increasing their rent.

I'd wager you would never dream of calling them that to their face. Tenant/landlord is a two way street, an improved attitude may benefit you in the future.

Are you critical of the operators of any other business you trade with who have a heavy front loaded business and are trying to make a profit?

Did you know the mark up on electronics/hifi can be as high as 100% or more. Are Apple/Samsung leeches too?

Grumpy_chap

kmb500 said:

Grumpy_chap said:

If you do nothing, you will move to the rolling contract.  It is still worth letting the Agent know this is what you will do.

You can choose to sign up for another year and that is something that some people like.

Thank you. What would be the advantage of signing for a year? Since I assume the rent would be the same regardless of which one you opted for?

On a rolling contract, notice periods are short (in each direction) so neither party has any security / certainty.

If you sign for a year, then you have the surety of knowing you are secure in the property for another fixed term.  The LL also has the security of understanding your intention to remain.

prowla

Mutton_Geoff said:

kmb500 said:

Landleeches are increasing their rent.

I'd wager you would never dream of calling them that to their face. Tenant/landlord is a two way street, an improved attitude may benefit you in the future.

Are you critical of the operators of any other business you trade with who have a heavy front loaded business and are trying to make a profit?

Did you know the mark up on electronics/hifi can be as high as 100% or more. Are Apple/Samsung leeches too?

I guess if you extrapolate the term, everyone is a leech!