To consider moving out over £10 a month?

[Sparklfairy]

I'm six weeks into my latest 6 month tenancy agreement (been here two years), and the agent has just sent me another renewal for when this one ends

They've put the rent up. By £10 they increased the rent last renewal which I accepted even though I thought it was a bit off with everyone struggling with covid.

Now they've put it up again, but it's such a paltry amount I'm a bit confused. I have landlord friends, and no one is putting rents up if they've got good tenants, and all agree £10 is a bit pointless to rock the boat so to speak.

I could move, but it would be a pain in the arse I don't need. I no longer need this location like I did when I moved in, and could move slightly further out to a much bigger place for just £40/m more than they're asking for here, but I wouldn't know anyone etc. I couldn't get anywhere (tiny or not) alone for the price I'm paying.

They also struggled to rent this place as it's so tiny - a very limited market. If you've got someone that pays on time and is no trouble why fuck about over £10

I wrote back yesterday and asked if the figure was correct (could be a typo - not the first time it's happened), but 24hrs later haven't had a reply and now I'm left wondering what to do. Living alone is expensive enough (costs me £800-900 a month in rent and bills) and if they've really put it up by so little it feels a bit like they're trying to squeeze every last penny out of me.

I should add, the "landlord" is a LTD company with over 100 properties, so not a struggling accidental landlord. If they want to sell they could just tell me.

What would you do? And if you're a landlord, would you have done this?

@BlackCatShadow

It's very easy for people to say just say no and move out, but moving is also expensive (in my experience), so take your time, have a look and see what else is out there and consider your options before you make a decision.

Very good advice. This is the reality of renting and that at any time the rug can be pulled so to speak. I know it's probably a quiet time of year for rentals to be on the market but I'm not exactly spoiled for choice I'll either have to move miles away from areas I know, pay loads more in rent or get a room in a flatshare. PPs turning on me have missed the point somewhat, I haven't decided if I'll move over a petty amount, I was simply interested in what others would do in my situation, and whether other landlords would have bothered with a £10 rise (hadn't thought of the portfolio view at that point). The main thing being that if I'd signed 12 months instead of 6 they would have waited for their extra tenner+ anyway

Sounds alright to me. It’s a tenner. 🤷🏻‍♀️

I had a previous LL want to increase my rent by £50 pcm. I wrote back and told them I could not afford it and offered £25. I pointed out the expense of the process of getting a new tenant, the cost of voids etc. They accepted the £25 offer.

I’m a LL and I wouldn’t - seems extraordinarily like petty greed.
I’d just politely decline the increase. Of course it’s a risk, but a void for a month or two will cost them a lot more in cash and all the faff of finding new tenants - who maybe won’t be as good.

Our letting agent used to urge us to whack the rent up every year and evidently assumed we’d want to. We had very good tenants, didn’t want to, and said so.

We have since ditched that LA and manage it ourselves.

I’m a LL & wouldn’t put the rent up by £10 a month, however it’s my only property & I notice when there is a gap if it forces tenants to move out. It’s a risk game to do that.

The rental market in my local area is booming, each year rents are going up £100pcm. However I would never put the rent up that much & feel what my current tenants are paying is fair/a lot of money for rent.....

You said you have a commercial LL - £10pcm x 100 properties = £12k increase a year.

Notice this is an old thread, how did it go?

And just to add, I'm like you. I'd probably be looking to move based purely on the pettiness of it.

A general point: no complaint about an amount being petty can ever be valid. If it's worth complaining about, by definition it's not a petty amount, by the standard of the complainant.

Zombie.

This is the second housing thread zombie I've seen just this morning 🤔

When I have good tenants I don’t raise the rent, especially in this climate.