Cutting the Rent

JASpencer_2

I'm coming to the end of my six monthly introductory period. Basically I want to cut the rent that I pay, so is there anyone there who has done this? The ideas that I've had so far are:

1) Research the local market and see what the rental/prices are and bring this up to the rental agents (with subtle hints that you will move).
2) Offer to pay 3/6 months up front letting the landlord have the benefit of the rent in advance and the knowledge we'll be there for the duration of the payment (we have the money and so we should get a better deal than ING offer).
3) Err, that's it.

Any other ideas?

We are Sell To Renters, which means that we are looking at buying when some of the froth has blown off the market and we have money in the bank.

clarkey_2

Hows the market where you are? If they're lots of properties then you could make the landlord very nervous. I would think that they'd be nervous if you give your notice now as it'll be a bit harder to shift the property over christmas.

MMMIARMW_II

Go for it! just suggest the property isn't worth the pcm your paying and leave the ball in their court. They can only say no, if so it's up to you to decide whether to move out (& pay all the assoicated costs) or stay. They may try to hike it ours did!!!!! (in line with inflation if you've ever heard such nonsence)

Robert_Sterling_3

You agreed a rent for six months.
You can suggest a reduction
The letter can suggest an increase.
Good luck

Nurse_Bambi

my rent has just gone up and to top it off I have to pay a £53 renewal fee. >:(

Is the estate agent really allowed to charge this?

I thought about moving and have had a look but it seems that my house is ok for the money. I was looking for a similar sized property and found that I wouldn't be paying that much less for a much worse property. (thats not good english is it?) Anyway, after the moving out fee to the agents and removal costs it would be 6 months before I was saving and I'm only planning to stay in the area for another year or so.

I'm gonna do some bank shifts at my local hospital to cover the extra rent.

Reaper

Any other ideas?

Yes. If you are paying rent to a private landlord you can ask the local council's Rent Officer to decide the fair rent. Once fixed the landlord can not then increase it unless the rent officer agrees.

Be careful though. The rent officer might decide you are not paying enough rent and increase it! So only do this if you are sure your rent is greater than it should be for the area.

chicklet_2

"Yes. If you are paying rent to a private landlord you can ask the local council's Rent Officer to decide the fair rent. Once fixed the landlord can not then increase it unless the rent officer agrees.

Be careful though. The rent officer might decide you are not paying enough rent and increase it! So only do this if you are sure your rent is greater than it should be for the area. "


Be more careful: you can only apply to the rent officer in the first six months of the ast. And you've already had that.

dag_2

Yes. If you are paying rent to a private landlord you can ask the local council's Rent Officer to decide the fair rent. Once fixed the landlord can not then increase it unless the rent officer agrees.

I hate to point this out - but this only applies to protected tenancies. You will have a "protected tenancy" if you moved in before 1989.

If you moved in after 1989, then you will probably either have an "assured" or an "assured shorthold" tenancy. The landlord can charge you whatever rent he likes - and if it's too much, the only thing you can do about it is move out.

There are restrictions on how often your landlord can change the rent - but that's all. If you're on an periodic assured shorthold contract, your landlord can evict you without giving you a reason, with only two month's notice - so there's nothing to stop the landlord giving you notice and then trying to relet to you at a higher rent.

You're in a better position if you're on a fixed-term contract.

You can still apply to the rent officer to register a "fair rent" - however, the only purpose of the "fair rent" is to restrict the amount of housing benefit you can get. If you lose your income and run out of savings, and try to get housing benefit, but the rent officer registers a "fair rent" that's much lower than your actual rent - that's tough cookie on you, you have to make up the difference with money that you don't have. If you don't, your landlord can evict you.

JASpencer's two ideas are still the best, in my opinion. You can save stacks if you shop around and negotiate, but you really do need to be prepared to move at short notice.

Try to keep as little clutter as possible. If you own a car or a van - great. If not, the rent savings won't necessarily justify the cost of buying a car. If you live in a major urban area such as London, Birmingham or Manchester, you may find that renting vans now and then is much cheaper.

oliphaunt

Hi there,

I was wondering if there is any law in the UK which allows to apply for rent reduction, if there is above limit noise just outside the property.

They just started to demolish a property in front of our house, which is bringing unbearable noise with it and I am working from this property, which makes it very difficult to concentrate. I can only assume, that they will start soon after building a new property, so the noise level will stay high for another couple of months.

I am originally from germany, where I know, that you can apply up to 30% reduction of your rent in this case, but it seems in the UK noone really cares (about the tenant). Has anyone had any experience?

thanks

clutton_2

if this noise is not caused by your landlord or his other tenants, then you cannot seek redress from him for your inconvenience.

""it seems in the UK noone really cares (about the tenant)""

what a hideous generalisation ..........

ExchangeMonkey

Nurse_Bambi wrote: »

my rent has just gone up and to top it off I have to pay a £53 renewal fee. >:(

Is the estate agent really allowed to charge this?

I thought about moving and have had a look but it seems that my house is ok for the money. I was looking for a similar sized property and found that I wouldn't be paying that much less for a much worse property. (thats not good english is it?) Anyway, after the moving out fee to the agents and removal costs it would be 6 months before I was saving and I'm only planning to stay in the area for another year or so.

I'm gonna do some bank shifts at my local hospital to cover the extra rent.

No, you don't, it's a favourite trick of theirs to extort some money from you. If you're on an AST it will simply continue with the same terms and conditions - nobody needs to do anything.

If you're happy to stay, ring them up and say you will sign a new contract, but are not prepared to to pay a fee. They will more than likely go with this as it gaurantees you'll be in the property for at least another 8 months...