Rent increase

[becka]

This time last year I received a letter from my landlord advising that as the first year of my tenancy was coming to an end he would be increasing my rent from £595/mth to £615/mth but that as he likes to keep his houses updated he would be replacing the (decidedly 1980's based) kitchen in September/October time

He then advised that the contractors he used didn't do a very good job on another property so he would be postponing it - and that was the last that was mentioned about it

I have now received a notification that as another year has rolled by he will be increasing the rent to £650/mth to keep in line with rents in the area - a lot of the houses up for rent in the area are brand new builds with brand new kitchens etc.

Can he put the rent up again if he hasn't done what he said he would do on the first increase?

[markt]

i think the answer is yes he can but make it difficult. mention last years letter and ask him to prove he has all the relevant gas elec water certs he should have. and i think there is a new landlords cert in london as well. dont know if this helps but good luck

[welly]

Hi becka

Like markt said has anyone been to you place to check the gas cooker, central heat, ect each year you have been there and the person doing the check was CORGI reg'ed?.

And is the kitchen unsafe in anyway and do you have a letting company looking after it or do you just deal with him?

Welly

[becka]

Landlord came round yesterday for "inspection" and apparently was pleasently surprised (I think he thought we were keeping it like a hovel!)

the gas has been checked regularly. he's a nice enough landlord, I just don't want to pay more rent when he hasn't improved the property

We're planning to move in the next 3 or 4 months anyway (we have vile neighbours) so discussed with him that we don't mind if he holds off on putting the new kitchen in till when we leave if he'll hold off the rent increase but he just argued that the increase is fair and brings it in line with similar properties in the area.

Oh well ... ho hum and all that - here's to moving!

[welly]

Opps

[welly]

Oh well at lease you can look forward to moving all that packing and sorting out

Hope all works out ok

Welly

[Rich44]

Another money grabbing thieving landlord I see, I dont know why they think its ok to keep jacking rents up and not doing anything to improve the property

[steve.harriman1]

Being a landlord myself, afraid I sympathise with yours Becka.

Inflation goes 'up' every year - average 4% (??). Over an average period, so do mortgage payments based on the inflation. Unless he outright owns the property you rent, he has to 'foot the bill'. Even if he does own the property, it's his investment you're taking advantage of..... The increase isn't that much above my 'assumed' inflation rate - obviously changes each year.

Obviously if you feel the landlord isn't maintaining the property as the STA suggests, and he 'unjustly' attempts to raise the rent, you have cause to be annoyed, i.e. because he hasn't changed the kitchen as quick as he'd first hoped doesn't necessarily mean the original kitchen 'needs changing' or is unfit or poorly maintained. My point being, if the property doesn't need improving from your point of view, why must he change or improve it?

Just to let you know, I haven't raised either of my property's rent in the last 3 years - and whatever the circumstances, don't intend to until the houses are vacant again - within reason (15.4% inflation, etc)

Regardless, good luck with your move

[becka]

Thanks for your response Steve. I did have a nice chat with the landlord and I understand why he's putting the rent up - I just would prefer the money to be in my pocket not his!!

He explained that he's put it up so much so in 6 months time it'll be in line with rents in the area (although it'll be slightly higher to begin with)

We've decided to move into the city in the next few months though - mainly because we have vile neighbours and the amount we are paying to commute into Bristol means we could afford somewhere v nice with more nightlife and better public transport!!

[Tinkerbelle]

Originally Posted by Rich44

Another money grabbing thieving landlord I see, I dont know why they think its ok to keep jacking rents up and not doing anything to improve the property

I have the complete opposite.

Rent hasn't gone up in 6 years. Lease expired after 6 months. Asked for a new kitchen a year go but despite promises nothing has actually materialsied. The flat was decorated last xmas though.

Can't wait to get my own place

[Rich44]

Steve mortgage payments are nothing to do with inflation its interest set by the BoE and there are plenty of ways around that for anyone who has a mortgage on a property ie lots of competition.

I dont ask landlords to make a loss or whatever but inflation is actually 2.5% at the moment and has not been anywhere near 3% for some years now. Not to mention that that inflation figure is being boosted by atrificially high house prices so the housing market is actually pushing inflation higher than the actual figure, also current fuel and gas prices are also in the mix.

Inflation as far as I can see has no bearing on a landlord at all apart from the normal increase of any materials for maintaining or repairing a property and of course maintaining a profit margin (which is again fine).

What is not fine is stupid increases in rent because the housing market is so high at the moment and as there is more demand for properties landlords take the op to increase their rents "as the house is worth more" not because anything has been done intrinsically to do so.

Ultimately the problem with the housing market is too many properties owned by too few, not just landlords but the 2nd home in the coutry brigade (come to norfolk in the winter and see how bad it is).

Increasing the rent by 3% as per the initial rent increase is fine but over 5% the following year for no work really done is not really on and from the sounds of it he's just doing it because these other places have gone up and been rented out for that amount so he wants the same.

He explained that he's put it up so much so in 6 months time it'll be in line with rents in the area (although it'll be slightly higher to begin with)

So why not put it up to what it should be in 6 months time rather than whack it up now and make a huge profit out of it, not to mention who says rents will be that in 6 months time, the housing market could collapse tomorrow then it wouldnt be worth that at all.

[curlylocks505]

Hi all this is all new to me and ever so interesting.I have rented for over 7 years and I have had to Decorate everytime.Just because I am not a home owner does not mean I dont want to live in a nice one.I do believe that there should be more support for the Tenant( Good Ones!) If properties are not maintained etc, and kept up to date, then surely it would reflect a down turn in Price should the Landlord wish to sell.You would think that they would be happy to do all the little jobs knowing that the Tenant is actually " Baby Sitting " their Investment.I know its not always like that, but I am a good Tenant, my house is Immaculate, But for no thanks.The more I make it look nice they charge me More!!

[Planner]

The reason for the increase is irrelavant and your choice is simple. You either agree to pay it or you dont.

If you do agree then, pay it and move out in three to four months like you where planning.

If you dont then the only option the LL has is to issue you with notice to leave (has he issued a Section 21 when you moved in?)if not he will be required to give you 2 months notice, at which point you move out. He may not give you a good reference though!!.

[becka]

Well I've now been living in my new flat for a year (this thread has revived itself after a year!!) I chose not to pay the increase and am currently suing the old landlord for return of my deposit.

I wouldn't dream of asking him for a reference in the future - he is a complete robdog

[Gogivit]

What is it with landlords? They always seem to try keep the deposits.

Only once did I rent a house (prior to moving into home i bought) and funny enough, the landlord advised me she was withholding £140.00 of my deposit.(though its worth mentioning I paid full 6 months rent plus deposit in one go).

I called her bluff and said, I had heard how she always withheld her tenants deposits therefore I had allocated £10,000 of my savings for legal fees.

She soon paid me back the full amount

[Jeanjaquessmoothie]

Whilst I appreciate that there are many unscrupulous landlords out there, I don't think it's fair to tar them all with the same brush. Not all landlords try and keep the deposits, both landlords that I had when I was renting gave me back the full deposit, promptly and without any problems.

Please don't tar everyone with the same brush.