Please Please Help - Rent Increase

[Furrypaws1]

Hi

 

We are at our wits end and really need advice. We are on a AST, which is now rolling month by month as our original 6 months is long since passed, we have lived in the property for two years next month.

Since we moved in we have had serious problems with the landlord and repairs, there is normally a protracted arguement to get him to agree to anything. None of the repairs have been betterment, and to give egs the sink in the kitchen had been leaking and the floor in the kitchen would actually squelch and "float", this took approx a yr to get him to agree.

Now we have a leaking toilet, it has sunk into the floor and into the lino that we replaced ourselves because the agency couldnt be bothered/landlord wouldnt pay. It is slowly creeping onto the ceiling below. The lounge widows dont open and although we have mentioned it since we moved in, we have not been provided with the keys and the garage door has no lock which means its not fit for purpose (these things are just the icing on the cake)

The landlord, some time ago proposed a rent inc by some extra £36 per month.

We immediately disputed it as he is fulfilling his part of contract by maintaining property. We responded in writing the the letting agency. As we have heard nothing since (despite chasing for repairs etc) we thought the landlord has accepted that he needs to addess these issues. We have always said that we are ok with the inc as long as house is maintained.

 

We have now just got a letter advising rent in is arrears to the tune of £140 ish. We immediately called and explained again why in arrears. I have just this secnd got a call from the agency advising we have to pay this increase, and the rent arrears is payble immediately!

This has really upset us and we just cant afford the arrears. Please please can someone tell us where we stand?

:-x:-x:-x

[Steve__M]

When you say the landlord "proposed a rent inc by some extra £36 per month", in what way was it proposed.

 

I believe that he should have proposed it in the form of a Section 13 notice. The notice would have explained your rights.

 

If a Section 13 notice was not used then you may be in the right ignoring it. On the other hand the landlord still has the right to issue a Section 21 to give you 2 months' notice.

 

Certainly you should be checking out the market to see whether you could get a better place for less money (even if only to use it as evidence against the rent rise).