How to negotiate with vindictive landlord?

[anon97528996]

Just that really - need to call him today. He has a history of letting himself into the flat without notice/permission, I finally pulled myself together and asked him to stop and he's decided to hike the rent by 15% in response, which I can't afford. We're out of contract as I chased him for 4 months before renewal but he never posted a new contract as promised. We have no heating, the building has bed bugs & mice problems, so I've had to pay out for all of these issues since living here which I couldn't afford alongside an extra 15% rent, also floors and kitchen are ancient and not really fit for use. Rent is currently just below market rate (not factoring in the issues above) but the increase is clearly above what a flat of this standard should cost.

I feel I've been a good tenant and I am really quite upset about the rent increase - I only moved here 15 months ago so no savings left to move again. If I can't negotiate him down, I'll never be able to afford an emergency. The 15% increase is equivalent to 5 times more than my annual pay rise. We're childless below 25 so no hope for any benefits help whatsoever.

I know he's punishing me because I asked for the legal notice when he plans to snoop around my home - usually around twice a month that I'm aware of. What would be your negotiation strategy?

Call him and tell him to go fuck himself.

Then move in with your friend.

What do you mean by can't afford to move? Any deposit on a new flat would be covered by the one you'd get back on your old flat presumably, so surely the only costs would be to get your stuff from a to b, which can cost next to nothing if you do it sensibly and enlist the help of friends?

My landlord went for a 40% rise recently (to be honest, similar sounding property) we negotiated it down. But it's really fucking stung.

our youngest was about to start at the local school so moving at that point was not an option.
No kids, id be out like a shot. Rent a house share and save your bollocks off. Don't put up with this shit now

Whatever you do don't tell him how much you love the flat! That just gives him the upper hand. I honestly think you should move, he sounds awful. The option of sharing with your friend sounds good.

derelict you get your deposit back when you leave, put you need the new deposit before you move in to the new place.

There's also agent fees, non refundable referencing fees (£500 a time you don't get back if you don't get the property!) stupid things like boxes, renting a van, post redirection. It all adds up.

Derelict that's naive or goady depending whether you've thought it through.

A landlord like that isn't going to give her back her deposit in time to use it for a new place and might not have followed the law about keeping her deposit in a separate account and have spent it with no intention of returning it - she's likely to be fighting for its return well after moving out.

Additionally it's perfectly normal for a new landlord to require rent up front in advance when signing the contract, meaning cash flow problems the month you move if you've less than a month's rent plus moving expenses in savings.

Moving is the right thing to do, but short term moving always costs money up front.

Your deposit from moving in should be in a secure scheme so you can access it. This should then enable you to move without saving up again.

It should be... But the landlord also should be giving her 24 hours notice before accessing her home, when in fact he's letting himself in without warning twice a month or more.

I wasn't being goady or naive, I posed it as a question as I was interested in the situation.

Didn't realise I needed to be an expert in order to participate in the conversation

If the deposit isn't in a protected scheme, any notice to quit will be invalid.

Of all the dreadful things some landlords do, the invasion of privacy by letting themselves in bugs me the most. If your landlord won't fix things, or harrasses you, you have a legal remedy, but afaik there's little you can do about the snoopy ones.

DP's last landlord used to do this. He was also a dreadful gossip, and used to tell tenants other tenants' business in a way that made it plain he read people's post and stuff.

We considered making a very big sign that said "Fuck off XXXX, you nosy cunt", and putting it on the sofa for the landlord to read when the flat was empty, but thought better off it. However, after he let himself in one day and found me ill in bed, he was very embarrassed and we think he never did it again.

He was a complete shit though, and refused to renew one woman's tenancy because he didn't like the fact that she had a black boyfriend and got rid of another tenant who'd had to give up work for health reasons and go on benefits. The poor guy had lived there for 10 years, was bang up to date with his rent, but the mere fact of him being on housing benefit just pissed the landlord off.

Do you have written confirmation that he's put your deposit in one of the Deposit Protection Schemes as he's legally obliged to do? He sounds like the kind of chancer that would try to withhold your deposit out of spite.

In the meantime, talk to Shelter, and make plans to move. I wouldn't normally advise borrowing a deposit, but you do need to get out. I'm sorry you love the flat, and you've put work in, but if you stay he's just going to continue trying to rip you off. Don't tell him how much you love the flat, don't offer to meet him half way, and do put all your correspondence in writing (email or letters).

Thanks all - I am listening! Great call on the deposit - I'll need to investigate as I don't recall being notified that it had been re-protected once the contract ran out. My precious landlord didn't protect my deposit for 4 years so this might be the time to submit a claim for the potential 3x deposit amount from him which could help with moving.

The flat suits me in lots of out-ing ways which would make it very difficult to find a comparable property, hence my unwillingness to walk away from this one. Last time I moved I was made redundant at the same time and it was a truly traumatic experience, I've never been through anything so stressful and I'll admit I'm probably a bit phobic of living through it all again.

I've spoken to Shelter and I'm not eligible for any help, their advice was basically that I can resist all I want but he's quite likely to just serve me notice so I'm best off appealing to his better nature.

I know I'm a muppet for doing work on the flat, but it seemed like a fair partnership at the time - no hassle for him but I got to raise the standard of my home from "bearable" to "nice" when the unspoken laws of London dictate that "nice" isn't for people like me!

I've changed one of the locks - it was one I never was given a key for so I popped a new barrel in. I only use it when I'm away overnight but I'm quite nervous of his reaction if he ever notices...

I am a bit worried that you say you have replaced his furniture, does he know about this and has agreed in writing?

Stop paying the rent, use the money to get a deposit together for another flat. By the time he's able to start eviction proceedings for non payment you'll be moving.

@viques yes I have it in writing, the flat only came with two pieces of furniture and they were both badly broken. He was happy as long as I paid for removal. I honestly think he must have dragged them in off the street as the previous tenant had much nicer stuff and even charity shops wouldn't sell stuff in that state - possibly where the bloody bugs came from!!

Don't stop paying rent, that's the worst advice.
You have to pay rent no matter what as he can chase you for it regardless of conditions in the property and you could end up with a massive ccj and bailiffs knocking on your new door.

I'll need to investigate as I don't recall being notified that it had been re-protected once the contract ran out

It wouldn't have had to be re-submitted - you've automatically moved onto a rolling contract, it can stay where it is. One of the really dishonest things that agents do is make people think they have to renegotiate a contract, but they don't, unless you want the extra security, you can just stay on the rolling one just fine.

I'm a landlord and this is totally appalling behaviour. The landlord is definitely at fault. It is classed as harassment, is accompanied by a fine of up to £5,000, but unfortunately needs to be proven and taken to court.

Your local authority may also be able to help through the environmental health team who handle things like licensing. Have you contacted them?