Rent increase / new tenancy agreement

madwormred

Hi, just wondered if someone could confirm whether, following a rent increase the landlord has to provide a new tenancy agreement.   

The letting agents notified me of a rent increase starting end of Jan (which is usual) and  have told both myself and the landlord that a new tenancy agreement is needed as this is mandatory with a rent increase however I am not sure this is right.  I've had rent increases before and they only started saying this last year so I wonder if the law has changed.

Its not a managed property, I have been here over 10 years and between myself and the landlord we have no issues with how things are.

Thanks

FlorayG

No that's wrong. As long as you have the increase in writing and you've either mutually agreed to it or there is a Section 13 notice there's no need for a new tenancy agreement.
Things are changing when the new Renter's Rights Act is passed but that's in the future

swingaloo

The agents work for the landlord. He should be telling them a new tenancy agreement is not required. They should not be dictating to him.

theartfullodger

1stly you don't have to agree to any rent increase at all. You have the power to propose a rent reduction.

S13 isn't necessarily valid.  If tenancy agreement has something covering rent increases then s13 is not valid. Plus date and other drafting errors.

However landlord does not have provide a tenancy agreement.  In fact in England he never has to provide a written tenancy agreement.at all!  Bonkers!  Other countries (eg Scotland) does this better 

saajan_12

madwormred said:

Hi, just wondered if someone could confirm whether, following a rent increase the landlord has to provide a new tenancy agreement.   

The letting agents notified me of a rent increase starting end of Jan (which is usual) and  have told both myself and the landlord that a new tenancy agreement is needed as this is mandatory with a rent increase however I am not sure this is right.  I've had rent increases before and they only started saying this last year so I wonder if the law has changed.

Its not a managed property, I have been here over 10 years and between myself and the landlord we have no issues with how things are.

Thanks

No law change, and if anything the reform bill (or whatever its called) will probably go the other way, either less fixed terms not more. 

If you and the LL agree on a rent increase by £x from y date then that's all. It would be good practice to put it in writing so there's no confusion and everyone has evidence though not required. That writing could be an email, or a written contract saying <everything says the same except rent is now £x> with no fixed term etc. 

Mr.Generous

The agent will charge a substantial sum to the landlord to draw up a brand new bespoke state of the art tenancy agreement to meet everybody's needs. Or else that's what they want you to think, they'll just overtype the new rent and a new start date on the old agreement and probably not notice a couple of other errors already there or date references that no longer make sence, but hey, if they can con the landlord out of a couple of hundred £ for a few minutes work, why not?

madwormred

Thank you all for the information. I’ve told my landlord and she’s going to raise it with the agents.