Agency proposing rent increase of £10 a month

[Chronictank]

That isn't allowed anymore and would not stand up if you took them to court.

I can tell you that it most certainly is

edit: they do it so they can make you move out the day your tenancy contract expires rather than have to wait an additional 2 months

you have a fixed term contract (minimum 6 months unless its a holiday let) they serve you your notice giving you 2 months to leave the property.
Obviously they have to give back a % of your deposit

 

[wez130]

I would put it to them that if you disagreed, and moved, even if the house is empty for one month, they would be a lot more than £10 /month out of pocket, explain youve been a good tenant, give examples of other similarly priced properties in your area and definitely get at least a 6 month lease instead of a rolling contract.

 

[Scam]

Calling their bluff is a dangerous game as they may well have someone lined up already

I doubt this, unless it's different in SCotland they couldn't be showing anyone around the flat without his consent

I definitely wouldn't accept a rise in rent. With interest rates so low currently, landlords are making an absolute killing. Unfortunately the flipside is that with the housing situation as it is they probably wouldn't struggle to fill your flat.

I'd bypass the agency, go to the landlord and ask if he knows about it. Give the landlord the sob story about how you can't afford the extra (no payrise, gas/electric, fuel bills rising etc.) and that you feel like you're being taken advantage of. You never know they may not have even asked him about it. If you're a good tenant he won't want the hassle of finding someone else and will probably over-rule them. Hopefully.

My first year in my flat is just about up, my landlords came round to sort out a new fridge for us and we had a chat. They were keen to point out that rents are going through the roof (no **** ) but they were going to keep our rent the same. I'd be grateful but we pay them a small fortune anyway

 

[Chronictank]

apologies i was referring to flat out refusing, to be honest with you the more likely scenario is that the agency have said you can get £10 more p month shall we ask the tenant to up the rent and the landlord just agreed

 

[ColdAsIce]

Will look more into when I get home and read the letter myself. The girlfriend told me over the phone, so there might be some details missed.

 

[alx]

just out of interest. The 2.5yrs youve been in your flat, have your yearly earnings increased at all?

I've noticed lots of peoples costs shooting up and their wages aren't increasing with them. Seems to be a real problem at the moment.

This is a general question to everybody, but do many people get regular pay rises in line with the cost of living index (ie inflation)? I've heard of friends of friends getting this every 6 months but I assume it's really not very common?

Maybe I should start a seperate thread.

 

[Chronictank]

I used to get increments (often below inflation :/) but now have a 2 yr pay freeze

 

[SeatIbiza]

We have just negotiated a £25 a month increase, the landlords initially went for the big dog and asked for a £55 pm increase.

Fortunately i had done my research on rightmove etc and came back at them with similar priced properties and the fact that maintain the property to a good level and dont ring them out for any little reason.

So ours went up from £550pm to £575pm for a 4 bedroom end terrace, that price is now stuck for 2 years.

My god this must be a hell of a hole to be able to get a 4 bed house for that money :S

 

[Scam]

Maybe I should start a seperate thread.

I'd be intrigued. I work in tv/film and there's no such thing as a payrise. The only way to get more money is to move companies I always assume people working in 'proper' industries get at least a small payrise every year.

 

[zootfloot]

My god this must be a hell of a hole to be able to get a 4 bed house for that money :S

Not really, its a 106 year old end terrace house with an extension at the back.

The village/small town is ok with nice schools etc and a very low crime rate, decent bus service etc.

Its just not down south or city centre so the rent is much more bareable.

As an example you can rent a 3 bedroom new build house with front and rear gardens, double garage and appliances for about £650pm.

We have the added bonus that our landlord is actually a privately run business that has been operating for about 60 years, they own 200+ properties throughout the north of england and now own a golf club.

They have their own tradesmen to cover most jobs etc, and work is always done very fast and to a good standard.

as an example...in february this year our back boiler knacked up on a sunday morning, i rang the plumber out and he wrote it off, 4 days later we had a brand new combi boiler and some more radiators installed, they gave us £200 for redecorating what had been ruined and provided fan heaters for the days we had no heating.

 

[grumpysculler]

I can tell you that it most certainly is

No it isn't. S21 of the housing act is pretty clear. Agents do it and tenants believe them, but that doesn't make it lawful and doesn't mean that a judge willl uphold the notice. Notice can only be lawfully served after the start of the tenancy AND when the deposit is protected (assuming AST).

 

[Chronictank]

No it isn't. S21 of the housing act is pretty clear. Agents do it and tenants believe them, but that doesn't make it lawful and doesn't mean that a judge willl uphold the notice. Notice can only be lawfully served after the start of the tenancy AND when the deposit is protected (assuming AST).

if they do it on the same day surely that is just semantics?, most people i know certainly did it all at once

 

[franco_22]

Just write them a letter and explain what people advised here, how it's not worth losing a good tenant over £10 a month, which they will only see £1 of assuming they only take 10% of the rent from the landlord.

Then again, agents make so much money with reference fees these days I don't even know if they care =x