To think this is pure greed

[Dobbysgotthesocks]

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!

Paying more than the mortgage is irrelevant, I will never understand why people bring this up.

Of course you should pay more than a mortgage in rent.

When you pay rent you’re paying for a service, for someone else to deal with it when things go wrong, so that when a fence blows down or the boiler breaks all you have to do is let the landlord know. You’re also paying for energy efficiency, knowing that there are regular gas safely checks and you don’t have to pay anything on top to maintain the property.

When you pay a mortgage you are basically just paying back a big loan. All the responsibility of maintenance is yours, you have to find the time and the money to sort out any problems on top of the mortgage payment. You might well live with things being broken that you wouldn’t put up with if you were renting.

Rent and mortgage are two very different things.

Although you might pay a deposit, you will get that back, it’s not money in the landlords pocket ready to pay for any damage left behind by pets, and even if it were there’s no guarantee it would be enough. You really can’t blame landlords for not wanting to accept pets, or children in properties that are unsuitable.

I feel you OP and you’re quite right, some people really don’t have a clue. I’ve been in the same position as you, but in my case the landlord just evicted me with a section 21 and lied he was selling up because there was a clause in my contract saying he couldn’t hike it up as much as he wanted to in one go. Like yours, he owned half the village and had never had to work in his life. I lived there 14 years and had basically paid the value of the house in rent by then. He threw me and my son out a week before Christmas. A month later the house was on Rightmove for £300 more a month.

I then moved into another ‘long term’ rental and the landlord decided to sell up after 6 months so we were evicted again. It is SO STRESSFUL and I could’ve bought and paid a mortgage on either of the properties for less than my rent but how is a single parent supposed to pay rent and save for a deposit?

Unfortunately even if you did manage to find some clause about him not raising the rent that much he could just throw you out under a section 21 for no reason.

It’s bloody disgusting, ignore the posters who don't get it. And here: 💐

@OhWhyNot

I didn’t think rent could be increased at such a rate (and shouldn’t be)

We should have more rent control laws

And should be giving more notice

We have never increased the rent. May put it up 3% this year which I think is fair.

As for giving notice I think it should be 3 months rather than 2.
In France tenants cannot be evicted from November to March, winter months, even if they don’t pay their rent.
French LL’s give notice in Spring.

@coatofsomanycolours

Dobbysgotthesocks your anger towards @Woahthehorsey* is ridiculously over the top and completely unnecessary*

I agree. Why so nasty and horrible? Op, you have been really, really unkind. It is not the fault of any posters here that your rent is increasing, yet you are attacking and blaming others as if it is. I feel any sympathy or advice others may have shared with you may evaporate.

woahthehorsey I understand and wish you luck with your complex problem - sounds so unfair!

Why because I have pointed out that it was their decision to make the financial choices they have? Why should it be their tenant who then has to bail them out. She wouldn't be in the situation had they had the financials sorted from the get go. I might have been a bit blunt but I stand by everything I said

@FairyCakeWings it's very clear you are a landlord!

Wow that’s shocking.
We are putting the rent up, just worked out the percentage, it’s 3% which feels fair.

Only one months notice as well. Awful.

@BluesCluesToo

Can I ask you a question OP? You say no one should be allowed to own more than one property. Imagine you were settled in a place of your own, and then one day you came into money, a few hundred thousand pounds. What would you do with it? What would you invest in? Don't you think it would be sensible to buy a property and rent it out? It would be your pension when you retire. Please don't shoot me down in flames, I just want you to try and think about why some people become landlords. Maybe they're just trying to do their best with what they've got, like we all do?

No I don't think it would be sensible to prevent others from getting on the housing market by being part of the problem. I would find good ethical investments or I would develop my business into adult education. I wouldn't be out for maximum profits.

For what it's worth my business operates as a community interest company now. I don't believe in individuals holding great wealth.

I am, with good reason, and I try to be a good one, which is why it gets my back up with people slag off all landlords as if they are one big evil gang. I’d never do what your LL has done.

Eek, just read the whole thread maybe I shouldn’t have admitted I’m a LL accidental and only one property that I rent if that makes a difference.

Give me a min and I’ll take a look at some decent advice for you OP.

Is it an assured shorthold tenancy?

england.shelter.org.uk/professional_resources/legal/renting/tenancy_status_checker

How to check if you are unsure.

I believe this notice period applies to any type of tenancy.

You need to appeal before the increase is due to take place so get on that immediately.

Build your case around the fact the property isn’t comparable to other properties locally and therefore the increase isn’t ‘market rate’ it’s higher.

@FairyCakeWings

Paying more than the mortgage is irrelevant, I will never understand why people bring this up.

Of course you should pay more than a mortgage in rent.

When you pay rent you’re paying for a service, for someone else to deal with it when things go wrong, so that when a fence blows down or the boiler breaks all you have to do is let the landlord know. You’re also paying for energy efficiency, knowing that there are regular gas safely checks and you don’t have to pay anything on top to maintain the property.

When you pay a mortgage you are basically just paying back a big loan. All the responsibility of maintenance is yours, you have to find the time and the money to sort out any problems on top of the mortgage payment. You might well live with things being broken that you wouldn’t put up with if you were renting.

Rent and mortgage are two very different things.

Although you might pay a deposit, you will get that back, it’s not money in the landlords pocket ready to pay for any damage left behind by pets, and even if it were there’s no guarantee it would be enough. You really can’t blame landlords for not wanting to accept pets, or children in properties that are unsuitable.

If I'm paying for a service then I should be able to have a pet! I've lived in plenty of places that would have been suitable for a pet. We pay for a service and frequently don't even get the minimum done for us, I know loads of people who have had to live with broken boilers for months on end and as a tenant you have little power in that situation.

Also check if you are eligible for help with housing costs based on the increase in case your appeal is unsuccessful

www.citizensadvice.org.uk/housing/renting-privately/private-renting/get-help-with-renting-costs/

@HotWaterAndLemon

Eek, just read the whole thread maybe I shouldn’t have admitted I’m a LL accidental and only one property that I rent if that makes a difference.

Give me a min and I’ll take a look at some decent advice for you OP.

Don't dare to say you an accidental landlord - OP doesn't believe in those.

The OP having been served a section 13 notice will no doubt know that it is legal to increase rents so that they are in line with average rents locally.

The question is whether they are allowed to do so with the property being in the condition it is in, which is a different matter and one upon which she should seek legal advice.

This may be of use and it does look like you will need to go to the tribunal if you wish to dispute the rise.

blog.openrent.co.uk/how-to-increase-the-rent-by-serving-a-section-13-notice/

There is no way your landlords costs haven’t risen, even if he does own the properties outright.

Yes, costs certainly will rise! The building materials for repairs have risen, labour costs have risen, insurance costs have, and no doubt the costs of managing the properties will also have risen.
Probably the most important factor though, is the new tax laws (which have been phased in over the last three years) on the income has changed very significantly , and left landlords with much less profit. Some newer landlords will actually be left with no profit at all from the rental income.
This is the primary reason in my view why so many landlords are selling up. As less rental property becomes available, there will be more competition for what remains, which will also push rents up further.
This already seems to be happening in my area of the SE.

@Dobbysgotthesocks my father is a commercial landlord. It's not always practical for businesses to buy their own offices, better to rent them; as covid has shown, people may have different requirements for office space at different times; and also most businesses are better off investing in staff rather than property.

The issue isn't with landlords per se; the issue is with poor and middle income individuals having to pay private rent they can ill afford. Renting can be an empowering decision for some people; many celebrities rent for example. If you are Justin Bieber's landlord, I don't think you are exploiting him in the slightest! Ditto for a lot of expats whose companies often pay for their rentals. Or even young professionals who are renting a serviced apartment in Wapping. I wouldn't have wanted to buy an apartment with a lift and a communal swimming pool and gym to maintain, but I would have loved to rent one if I could afford it! I mean, it's probably more fun to live in than my 1930s flat which has no lift but no communal garden but my service charges are a lot lower...

@MadinMarch if they are selling up, how come there is no supply. I am looking for a larger flat and I know most are owned by landlords....there is very little... I just get emails about 'off market' properties that get snapped up. Yes even flats. Esp flats with a decent garden and big rooms.

@onlychildhamster
I didn't say ALL landlords are currently selling up right now, but I think there's probably been a steady trickle since the tax changes were first introduced a few years ago.
Maybe the properties are selling with the tenants in situ, or to people who are not intending to rent it out again? Or maybe landlords aren't selling up so much as to saturate the market.

@Dobbysgotthesocks Its the same everywhere actually, I live north west and the rent has gone through the roof round here, semi detached houses that haven't been touched since the 70/80's are £1000+ a month!

I am pretty sure LL can rise rents up to other similar houses in area. Look on Rightmove. As other houses have CH and yours does not, you could try to find a vacant house with CH. Energy Performance Certificate must be E or above until new reforms come in. I always give my tenants 2 months notice if I am going to rise rent. I think that is fairer because it gives them time to look for something cheaper if they want to. In July I will be increasing rent on property. It works out at 7.2 percent but everything on RM is at least £70 more expensive. I keep tents as low as I can but mortgage rates gone up a bit but will go up more in next 12 months and I most likely will have to have very expensive internal cladding as old house and can't make it get 3 more points from a high D to a C unless internal cladding as no cavity in walls or solar panels.

@FairyCakeWings

Paying more than the mortgage is irrelevant, I will never understand why people bring this up.

Of course you should pay more than a mortgage in rent.

When you pay rent you’re paying for a service, for someone else to deal with it when things go wrong, so that when a fence blows down or the boiler breaks all you have to do is let the landlord know. You’re also paying for energy efficiency, knowing that there are regular gas safely checks and you don’t have to pay anything on top to maintain the property.

When you pay a mortgage you are basically just paying back a big loan. All the responsibility of maintenance is yours, you have to find the time and the money to sort out any problems on top of the mortgage payment. You might well live with things being broken that you wouldn’t put up with if you were renting.

Rent and mortgage are two very different things.

Although you might pay a deposit, you will get that back, it’s not money in the landlords pocket ready to pay for any damage left behind by pets, and even if it were there’s no guarantee it would be enough. You really can’t blame landlords for not wanting to accept pets, or children in properties that are unsuitable.

I think if I’m paying for someone’s mortgage and their “services” then I’m entitled to have children and pets? What do you think of landlord that take 1000s off of people who can barely afford it but do little maintenance on the property and begrudge repairs? Why should someone have the power to dictate how I love my life just because I can’t afford to buy? And I can’t afford to buy because I have to spend all of my money on rent and bills with little left over to save!

Of you live in an E rated property your LL will either sell, as many are planning to do, or make expensive improvement to get it up to a C rating for Energy Performance. The average LL with older period properties without cavity walls will have to pay in region of £22k to upgrade, hence many many are selling 1 property per year to minimise capital gains. Once government has brought these rules in there will be far fewer houses to rent and no doubt that means those who still have rentals with the C rating will rise prices steeply.