To ask my landlord to consider the current circumstances when renewing our tenancy and deciding on rent increase?

[BuzzOffMate]

We've rented the same property now for some years. Each year our rent has increased about £30 a month.

My tenancy is up for renewal and I've just had an email asking me to confirm if I'm happy to renew and also asking me to bear in mind that the landlord has the right to increase the rent etc etc... And they are taking his instructions on this.

I've just been furloughed. AIBU to ask the landlord to consider the current situation when considering the rent increase? They've increased it every year we've been here and we've never batted an eye and always paid on time. We get on well with them.

Sounds fine.

Just to give a landlord's perspective on this, it's the managing agent's that always suggest a rent increase to me when my tenants' contract is coming up for renewal. I assume because lettings agents are running a business and want to maximise their profits - the more the tenants pay, the higher the fee the agent can charge the landlord too!

So it's not (necessarily) greedy landlords behind this practice...

It sounds like they've sent you a standard email with the same wording they send to everyone. Just write back and say you want to renew but are not willing to take a rent increase.

You can say no to rent increase - we always did when we were tenants. We took the view that we were good tenants who didn’t cause any problems, and it would cost the landlord a lot more to take the risk of a void period, so just politely said no. The landlords we had were always fine with that.

Our lettings agents look at the local market when suggesting a rent and twice have said not to increase. I hope that would be the case with you Op as the market is flat.

So it's not (necessarily) greedy landlords behind this practice...

Just the shyster the greedy landlord has doing their dirty work.

You can always count on MN to come out with the landlord bashing.

Properties managed by letting agents will have the rent put up every year/ every contract renewal. They take a percentage of the rent so it increases their own profits.
Actually, letting agents seem to be behind most of the shitty practices landlords are blamed for. I only started finding this out when someone I know moved into one of my properties and started filling me in on the emails/ demands/ charges they were subjected to.

You have prompted me to ask the estate agent not to increase the rent

You can always count on MN to come out with the landlord bashing.

And attempting not screw more rent out of someone at this time is clearly the action of a Samaritan

As a LL myself, if an increase is put to you, I’d suggest simply saying sorry, you can’t afford it.
I’m not sure any LL in their right mind at the moment would want a void for a month or so, and be going through the rigmarole of finding new tenants, viewings, , etc.

If the email is from a letting agent it might be standard practice to say this. Our letting agent (now ditched) used to want us to raise the rent at every opportunity, but we didn’t, since we had good tenants who looked after the property.

As a few people have said this often is driven by the managing agent rather than the landlord and doesn't necessarily reflect the landlord's approach.

Def worth an ask.

The rents been increasing higher than inflation which is a bit rich,

I’m a ll. I wouldn’t dream of putting up the rent. In fact I never do it for the couple of years. Tenant loyalty is far more important than a few quid in my pocket. It costs far more to have a change of tenants than the extra £30/50 a month, which after agents fees and taxes is peanuts.

I never answered your question. Too right, ask!

Just speak to them. If they want to make a few extra quid and risk losing long term tenants that's their lookout.

You are being damned good tenants by engaging with them and only asking for a freeze not a reduction.

I agree with the poster who suggested you email and point out you are currently on an 80% wage and suggest a rent reduction. Don't worry about what you can afford, it's about starting a negotiation. You're unlikely to get it, unfortunately, but given evictions aren't being processed right now, it might at least make the landlord think twice about raising the rent.

You're actually in quite a strong position right now as a tenant, so don't be afraid to stand your ground.

What is the rent increase based on? Because if it's to reflect the current market - it's dropping.

Once this is all over, is the landlord going to go back to charging you £600/month? Because that's probably what it's going to be worth (or even less). £30 a month adds up over the months (and years!)

even in normal times you cannot be 'booted out with two months notice' in England. Ignore the Shelter propaganda believers. Evictions take six months minimum and are now all banned anyway so not happening.

contact your LANDLORD (not your agent) and have a discussion. They may not even realise the agent is upping the rent. And yes, you can refuse a new tenancy, just go on to a rolling as the above situation is now in place. There is a formal notice about raising rent, no idea what it is as I've never done it.

Just spoke to the estate agent managing my property who confirmed they would not dream of doing a rent increase during this time