Landlord Imposes Rent Increase on 12 Month Anniversary

Jay_C

I have had another follow up from the agent, should i carry on ignoring or go back and say will be discussed nearer the time?

Please could you advise if you are able to accept the proposed rent increase at 9% from the 24.02.2024 or will you be looking to go to tribunal?

Alderbank

The RPI increase in 2023 was 9%. Forecasts for 2024 are 5% (and about 2.6% for 2025).
https://www.statista.com/statistics/374890/rpi-rate-forecast-uk/#:~:text=Inflation%20is%20an%20important%20measure,to%205.1%20percent%20by%202024.

I think I can understand why the the agent would like you to agree 9% instead of waiting until after February.

anselld

Jay_C said:

I have had another follow up from the agent, should i carry on ignoring or go back and say will be discussed nearer the time?

Please could you advise if you are able to accept the proposed rent increase at 9% from the 24.02.2024 or will you be looking to go to tribunal?

You should probably still just ignore but if you are uncomfortable doing so then just be straight with them along the lines ...
   The contract allows for a rent increase to be calculated based on the increase in RPI to the anniversary date.   Since the anniversary date is Feb 2024 this is too early to determine.  Please review and make a new proposal based on published data at the anniversary.

BungalowBel

YBR said:

Jay_C said:

I have checked and it seems regarding the heating, there are no TRVs on radiator in one of the bedrooms, not sure what the rules are with this but I would have thought at least each room should have one leaving one in the hallway without?

There needs to be at least one radiator that has no TRV. It's normal for that to be (include) the hallway, but not essential.

Yes, my one without the TRV is the bathroom.

Jay_C

anselld said:

Jay_C said:

I have had another follow up from the agent, should i carry on ignoring or go back and say will be discussed nearer the time?

Please could you advise if you are able to accept the proposed rent increase at 9% from the 24.02.2024 or will you be looking to go to tribunal?

You should probably still just ignore but if you are uncomfortable doing so then just be straight with them along the lines ...
   The contract allows for a rent increase to be calculated based on the increase in RPI to the anniversary date.   Since the anniversary date is Feb 2024 this is too early to determine.  Please review and make a new proposal based on published data at the anniversary.

Thank you for this, I may carry on ignore, if I change my mind and open dialogue will be along the lines of the above, email to be sent on the 23rd

Jay_C

Just an update on this, the agent has come back with the following below. Would it be best to sit tight and just wait for next months RPI data and negotiate based on that?

In terms of the rent increase I appreciate your comments regarding RPI and latest figure have shown a drop to 5.3% are you able to accept that in order for me to fix the uplift?

anselld

The next release date is Wednesday so you could wait and see.  It might go against you though so you could just accept a fairly big win now from where you started.

Jay_C

anselld said:

The next release date is Wednesday so you could wait and see.  It might go against you though so you could just accept a fairly big win now from where you started.

Thank you, that is exactly what I was thinking to check post wednesday and have a message drafted ready to go out straight after. Whilst not linked in anyway to rent increases, I plan to mention the speed of works being done (no hot water properly functioning for over a week) as causes for concern to agree to increases where LL duties are not being actioned on accordingly

Is the most occurate data source the ONS website?

anselld

Jay_C said:

anselld said:

The next release date is Wednesday so you could wait and see.  It might go against you though so you could just accept a fairly big win now from where you started.

Is the most occurate data source the ONS website?

Yes, ONS is the original source.

GDB2222

anselld said:

The next release date is Wednesday so you could wait and see.  It might go against you though so you could just accept a fairly big win now from where you started.

That will be the January RPI, not February.