Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think this is pure greed

205 replies

Dobbysgotthesocks · 17/02/2022 17:36

Just received a section 13 notice on my home. 23% increase in rent and given one months notice.
AIBU to think this is nothing more than pure utter greed!

OP posts:
ChessieFL · 17/02/2022 17:42

Depends what you’re paying and how it compares to the market rate/any mortgage your landlords may have on the property. Need more info to know if it’s greedy or not.

WouldIwasShookspeared · 17/02/2022 17:45

Crikey. That's steep.
When's the last time you had a rent increase and what the price of similar rentals?

You should call shelter and see if there's a way to challenge such a large increase.

ABCeasyasdohrayme · 17/02/2022 17:45

It may be greed, its more likely to be necessity. Prices are rising for everything, can't blame someone for maximising their income to cover it as much as possible, even though its really shit for you.

Hospedia · 17/02/2022 17:46

You could try negotiate it? Look at what rents are locally for a similar property and if you rent is going to be more you could point out that it's not in line with the market, you could also emphasise that you are a decent tenant, keep the property in good condition, and always pay on time (valuable commodities because if you leave they'd be gambling on both filling the property and getting a decent tenant).

You can also file an objection with the tribunal, it's free to do and there are guides online for how to do it. They will either agree it's unfair in which case you'll continue to pay the lower rent or they'll agree it is fair in which case you'll have to pay the new rate or give your notice to move out.

Hospedia · 17/02/2022 17:49

In the meantime I'd start putting feelers out to see what other properties are available locally, registering with the council and/or social housing providers, if you're on any benefits then checking to see if the increase would qualify you for any housing benefit, basically doing some research and some preparation.

FairyCakeWings · 17/02/2022 17:51

I agree a rise that step is likely to be out of necessity. What are you paying compared to local rate?

Original poster
Dobbysgotthesocks · 17/02/2022 18:03

What could possibly warrant a 23% jump!

For context the house has no central heating. Heating is by open fire or electric radiators on a key meter! House in poor state of repair and repairs take forever!

Its owned by a company who own entire village.

Rent increase has brought it to a similar rate as others in the general area that have recently been let. But all have central heating, parking and are of an overall higher standard than this.

I haven't lived here long enough to have had a price increase before.

This is south west England where prices have skyrocketed due to incomers moving here forcing local people out!

OP posts:
Hospedia · 17/02/2022 18:08

I'd definitely look at negotiating and, if no joy, then tribunal.

Original poster
Dobbysgotthesocks · 17/02/2022 18:15

I have offered them an 8% increase but won't go higher.
Would love to go to tribunal but worried about the cost. I have told them I will go to tribunal however!

OP posts:
TheHoptimist · 17/02/2022 18:25

The local estate changed them all to holiday cottages
Devastated the school
Closed the post office and shop
The estate now have a community cafe to make up for lack of amenities

littlecrocodiles · 17/02/2022 18:27

@Dobbysgotthesocks what's the EPC rating for the property? You can check online here find-energy-certificate.service.gov.uk/find-a-certificate/type-of-property
If it's a F or below then property should not have been let out. (Unless property is exempt)

Contact your councils Environmental Health team if they are not doing repairs, they can advise and even inspect the property

Pandoh · 17/02/2022 18:29

I suspect the harsh answer is...because they can. The market is brutal at the moment but good for sellers and landlords, sorry to hear this though sounds stressful.

jackstini · 17/02/2022 18:30

Could you negotiate central heating as they are putting it in line with similar properties?

It could be a combination of necessity and opportunity

I am a landlord and have got to look at raising some of mine as mortgages now require rent to be minimum 150% of the mortgage payment to ensure payment security plus cover the necessary legals - insurance, gas cert, elec cert etc.

Also accountant is querying why my rents are 25-35% below market value and is it a tax dodge?!

I have not increased any for 3 years, some not for 5/6 years so I do need to, but I don't like doing it

Original poster
Dobbysgotthesocks · 17/02/2022 18:35

@littlecrocodiles it's a E rating

OP posts:
Etinoxaurus · 17/02/2022 18:37

Of course it’s greed. I’m so sorry OP.

Blossomtoes · 17/02/2022 18:40

Looks like greed to me. It’s time we had rent controls.

Original poster
Dobbysgotthesocks · 17/02/2022 18:40

I fully expected an increase this year. But not one that steep! I get costs are going up.

But this isn't a company with huge mortgages on the properties either. The village was built to house a workforce at one time (deliberately being vague as could be outing) and the company then sold off the business that the houses were built for. Residents given options to buy and others lifetime tenancies. The rest are rented and have been for decades.

OP posts:
BOOTS52 · 17/02/2022 18:45

Please check with Citizens Advice as there are guidelines in place and there is a limit here how much that it can be increased also. That is ridiculous high price but get the advice and take it from there. I rented for years in crap places with no proper heating and old appliances and most landlords do not give a crap and it is just pure greed. An ex landlord wanted to increase my rent but also wanted me to pay extra few hundred on top of that which was ridiculous but I knew my rights as had worked at Citizens Information and they cannot increase more than say 4 percent every two years. So ring up and get the information and then take it from there. There should also be housing information that helps with this kind of thing, here we have Threshold in Ireland. Not sure where you are and they will help you navigate it all. Hope you get it sorted. Landlords know not many places to rent so think they can up the rents and not spend any money on a property. You should get those oil filled electric radiators as are good on electricity and found them better than any of them old type blow heaters which once turn them off room is freezing.

ImAnOmelette · 17/02/2022 18:46

We put our rent up today for the first time in three years. By 4.5% I asked what the max was out of interest and the agents told me 5%.

Because of holding back for three years we're down 23% on the average rate.

Are they allowed to put it up that much?

Kidsaregrim · 17/02/2022 18:52

I can’t put my story on here as it’s massively outing but in a very similar position although increase was 25% and today was given a very positive solution to them getting their money and us not paying a penny more than we already do, PM me if I can help

Original poster
Dobbysgotthesocks · 17/02/2022 18:56

@Kidsaregrim I'm very interested but I'm not sure how to pm!! 🤦🏻‍♀️ can you do it on the app?

OP posts:
Lunar27 · 17/02/2022 20:25

@jackstini

Could you negotiate central heating as they are putting it in line with similar properties?

It could be a combination of necessity and opportunity

I am a landlord and have got to look at raising some of mine as mortgages now require rent to be minimum 150% of the mortgage payment to ensure payment security plus cover the necessary legals - insurance, gas cert, elec cert etc.

Also accountant is querying why my rents are 25-35% below market value and is it a tax dodge?!

I have not increased any for 3 years, some not for 5/6 years so I do need to, but I don't like doing it

It's a sad day when an accountant is almost encouraging you to up your rents.

Mine never comments on such things as it's none of their business. Afaic how much you charge is up to you. You sound like a decent landlord so go with what feels right. If you don't need to, don't jump on the bandwagon.

I've got fantastic tenants so won't be increasing the rent for a good few years and I'd never hike it up by 23% (sorry to hear OP). If I can, I won't increase it at all as it pays to have good tenants and most importantly, happy ones IMHO.

AlwaysLatte · 17/02/2022 20:33

It's a lot but it could be someone who hasn't really been keeping up with the market rate and has their own financial problems but it's shocking to put it up all at once. We're only charging half what we could get as we haven't put it up since 2017 and it was pretty low to start with. If we had been in dire straits we might have had to put it up to avoid selling.

AlwaysLatte · 17/02/2022 20:36

Agree with others about getting good advice - it may not be legal to increase it that much.

Antsgomarching · 17/02/2022 20:47

YANBU, I’m a landlord and have never put rents up on current tenants, the exception was where a tenants actions meant I had to spend a chunk of money rectifying problems. Means one person hasn’t had a rent increase in 6 years. I certainly wouldn’t try to put rent up on property in that condition.