Further to my other thread, I could do with some sanity checking of advice that I'm giving to my neighbour.
My other thread is here:
TDS Avoidance - implications of wrong date on contract
where my neighbour's landlord is trying to deviously avoid TDS and now wants to raise the rent well above market rate. I've advised my neighbour to negotiate, but also to consider delaying tactics if she decides to move and needs time to find a place.
The landlord has informed my neighbour he will increase the rent from 1st August, but he hasn't yet given written notification.
We suspect that when written notification is received it will not mention section 13 as Ed's sticky suggests it needs to:
Rent Increase
On that basis, I'm going to advise my neighbour not to pay the rise until the correct one month's notice has been given in the correct form. I believe this will buy 2 months delay if she doesn't tell him till after 1st August.
Should the landlord issue a Section 21, I will advise her to ignore it on the basis that the deposit is not protected.
Suing for 3x deposit will remain a strong option particularly should things go horribly wrong. Certainly I will advise her to formally demand the deposit is protected prior to quitting the tenancy. I'm not sure my neighbour is keen to take the line of suing just yet.
Any comments or other ideas?
Rent rise rules - delaying tactics 
