Can my letting agent increase my deposit as well as rent?

Lily091213

I'm currently renting and have been in the same house for 6 years. It's always a 12 month fixed contract, which gets renewed for a new 12 months every August. 

This year the letting agent said the landlord wants to increase the rent by £200 a month. This is something we've agreed to. 

However they are now saying that because the deposit we paid 6 years ago was 1 months rent, and the rent has gone up, they need us to top up the deposit amount. 

Is this allowed? It just took us by surprise! 

theartfullodger

What does the new tenancy state the deposit is?? If you've signed it you've agreed to it.

You'll obviously appreciate there is no need to renew a tenancy at all, not even needed to increase the rent. Probably only done so agent can charge landlord even more commission.

Tenancies simply continue, month by month, after end of previous fixed term if tenant remains in occupation. Landlord or agent CANNOT prevent this 

propertyrental

Yes it's allowed, provided you agree to it.

If, for example, the LL offers you a new 12month contract, at a new rent, and with a new deposit, and you agree/sign it, then it is perfectly valid.

You can, of course, decline to sign. You could:

* negotiate, and get the new tenancy agreement to maintain the same deposit but increased rent
* negotiate, and get the new tenancy agreement to maintain the same deposit and also negotiate on the new rent
* decline the offer of a new 12 month TA and instead move to a periodic (rolling) tenancy. See

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?

silvercar

The landlord needs to protect any increase in deposit you pay. Although it is legal, it is hard to justify. Either the tenants are good tenants, so why increase the deposit or they are bad tenants and the landlord should not be renewing the tenancy.