To make a fuss about my rent?

[Pecanpickles]

I’ll try to be brief:

I signed a contract for my flat, all bills included, including wifi.

During my tenancy (now a rolling contract) a new landlord and letting agency took over. My contract was passed between agencies and I was told I didn’t need to sign a new one.

However, since the change, my internet has been cut off. The letting agency says that the landlord is refusing to pay it and there’s nothing they can do. The landlord says that they were unaware of my contract when they took over and are already paying my gas and electricity as a ‘goodwill gesture’. They say they could be making more money on the flat then they do, and are already ‘taking a hit’ for allowing me to remain in the property.

I’m upset because I am a phd student on very low income and I am spending a fortune on mobile phone data to tether my laptop and write my thesis.

I’m not sure who has the upper hand here. While I have the contract saying that internet is included, should I just be glad the new landlord hasn’t given me notice to move out or made me sign a new contract for a higher price?

Thanks! (Sorry for the boring question! Phoned citizen’s advice but they weren’t much help!)

If it's in the contract they should be providing it.

Bit of an annoying situ for you!! you have the upper hand as the contract still stands HOWEVER housing legislation has been changed recently to give landlords more rights so that more housing is made available. It now means that landlords can give you notice (most cases 2 months) and do not need to provide a reason and if he is already suggesting that 'he could make more money' its worrying. If there is other alternatives in your area housing wise then I would pursue it. Its a really crappy situ sorry :(

They have the 'upper hand' as on a rolling contract you can be evicted very quickly; something they may already be keen to do.

You can blame yourself for not signing a new contract.

In your shoes I would ask to sign a new contract (which matched the old one) or look to move elsewhere.

If you can't find anywhere you want for the same money then it sounds like they're telling the truth and you're onto a good deal with what you currently have.

I think they should honour the contract. Tough shit if the landlord was 'unaware' of it. Why would you buy a tenanted property and not even bother to find out the terms of said tenant's contract?

Thanks for the replies. Interesting to know about the legislation @dandelion, seems that I’d better start looking
@antialias It does sound like I moght have a good deal, but unfortunately it’s still a deal I can’t really afford

There’s no new legislation. LL’s have always been able to evict without reason providing the fixed term is up.

They obviously don’t really want to carry on paying your gas & electric so I would indeed start looking for somewhere new OP. But in the meantime, tell them you expect them to honour the terms of the contract you have with them or you’ll be seeking your costs back through the small claims court.

“Goodwill gesture”? Rude & ignorant. Don’t let them get away with that.