To ask what landlords plans are long term...

[Oopsusernamealreadytaken]

Bit of background, we’ve lived in our current rental property for over 6 years. Our landlady is lovely and has improved the property by putting in a new bathroom (4 years ago) and also is up to date on checks. She rarely bothers us for an inspection - maybe once a year or so and always gives notice if she needs to pop in for whatever reason.

A few weeks ago we had a letter about a rent increase. There wasn’t really an update given as to why other than she hadn’t given us one yet and she felt it was fair. Which I guess is fair, although we couldn’t contest it either way.

In the property we have made a lot of upgrades to decor (I know, fancy wanting to make it a home) and have done a lot of minor repairs (fixing a broken pipe, resetting fence posts, fixing small leaks) everything we’ve done has improved the property and subsequent value if she wanted to sell. We have done all of this with her permission, and she’s never offered to pay/pary pay.

I feel a bit sad that she’s decided to up the rent, it’s going to push us into the bracket of coasting week to week with no luxuries to having to cut other areas such as food etc. We already work all the hours we can due to having a Sen child.

So anyway enough of life story, would it be unreasonable to ask her what her plans our for the house? I know she’s well within her rights to not tell us, but equally we don’t want to pay out of our own pocket to improve a house that is going to be sold within a year. (I know that it can happen regardless)

I know we are lucky to have a roof over our heads, I know we are lucky to have a well maintained home to live in, I know we shouldn’t have probably done those repairs, but I fear if we start bugging her for every small repair now she will want to sell up and as a tenant that’s probably your worst fear come true.

What should we say? We have a meeting in a few weeks.

Your landlord can put up your rent in line with comparable properties. To do this properly she should have given you the notice on an official rent increase form which tells you on the back how you can appeal if you think it is unfair and excessive. I suggest you look at rental agents websites and get an idea of the going rate, She has left it a long time and so the jump probably feels bigger than if she had done it every few years. I don't think her intentions for the property are of any relevance. We try to minimise rent increases but the govt is eating into any profit all the time, eg off setting mortgage costs to tax, replacing carpets no longer a valid expense, harder to get and more expensive mortgages. Many small landlords will be driven out. Rents cannot just be raised above market values, you wont get tenants, Agents will have to stop charging tenants huge set up/screening costs and will pass that cost straight on the the cost to the landlord.

It is annoying sometimes. The LL wants as close to current market value as possible but houses with tenants for 10+ years are not updated to current market houses either. My rent is a bit below market but for market I would have a brand new kitchen/bathroom and other things newer than what’s in my home. As I don’t think anything has been upgraded I this house for a good 20 years minimum you can tell by the kitchen and bathroom. My LL would have to spend thousands to bring it up to current standards for someone to be willing to pay market value to then possibly end up with a terrible tenant who ruins the place.