...to think he wants us out of our home?

[Pinkerbeller]

Our letting agents were taken over and increased the rent by much more than the contractual "RPI" the first chance they got. When I questioned it they said they were working for the landlord and the location commanded a higher figure despite the fact that our place is very out-dated and still waiting repairs we requested over a year ago. We swallowed that because we love the place and we've been here nearly three years, but...

We've now received a new 1yr contract for October onward (at a cost to us of £100+ just for a photocopied document with new dates ) but, comparing this with the older versions, there is no on the anniversary, min-max percentage increase rent review clause.

If we sign this without such a clause, does it mean they can demand an increased rent as and when they choose? AIBU to think they're setting us up to increase the rent at will so we either pay up or move out so some other mug will pay more just to live near a train station?

[Julia001]

If you think that they are charging too much, you can go to a Rent tribunal www.gov.uk/housing-tribunals/overview if the house needs repairs, upkeep etc, the market rent might be lower, have you kept a record of all the dates and requests for repairs that you have asked for?

[Julia001]

I would also be getting advice about the new contract, why do you have to sign it? Check here to make sure that everything is being done , where is your deposit held, is it in a Deposit Protection Scheme? you can ring the agent and then the Scheme to check, if it isn't, you can take them to court and sue them for 3 times that amount.

[Pinkerbeller]

Thanks, Julia.

In his email defence of the rent increase the agent was quite chest puffing, said he couldn't believe we'd not had requested repairs done and blathered a lot, I then forwarded my previous emails and got a resounding silence.

Because we want to stay we paid the £108 fee for the further 1 year agreement and received three copies to be signed and returned (er, can they not count or do we not get to keep a copy for ourselves?!) and it's the exact agreement we've had the last 2.5 years except the clause about when the rent is to be reviewed and by how much has been removed.

The ridiculous thing is I'd be happy to pay myself to have the updates done to the taps etc. being that I live here, I just want security in return but feel like the new agent wants us out so he can get a higher rent from someone else.