Rent reduction

[Peachplum29]

For the next 3 months I’m going to have a drop in income and I’ve worked out a budget and worked out all my bill payments etc and I realised I’m going to over spend. Would it be unreasonable to ask my landlord for a 3 month rent reduction of £50 to then pay an extra £50 a month rent for 3 months there after to pay it back? What would be the bestway of going about this?

It would be ridiculous and I would be very unimpressed as a landlord

Ok, I have heard of other people asking their landlord for a rent reduction so thought I would ask on here.

I don't think your landlord would be very impressed. Could you cut £50 elsewhere in the budget for the 3 months.

I would.

It really depends on the landlord and your relationship with them. Presuming you have rented a long time and have a good relationship with them, I don't think ita ridiculous to ask at all.

Is it definitely a temporary drop?
I think the pp was very rude and its not actually ridiculous. Communication with the landlord is a great idea. If they say no, you have to rethink.

I would ask. As a previous landlord if a tenant of good standing had asked me this and presented me with her reasoning I'd agree.

Unfortunately landlords often have bills to pay relying on a certain income. Yours may be amenable but underpaying puts you at risk if eviction. What if nothing changes in three months' time?

No you shouldn’t ask for a rent reductions. It’s not an optional and you can’t just ask them to reduce it because of problems in your own life.

I'm a landlord and if one of my tenants asked me this I would do my best to accommodate their request as long as they had a good payment history.

In fact I have done this in the past for tenants temporarily struggling.

I have been at the property for 8 months now and have paid on time each month

I would accept this. It is better to accomodate things like this than you missing payments altogether as you have got into a mess.

At the beginning of Covid my tenant saw their income plummet. I agreed to a significant reduction for 3 months which was repaid by them later.
If you really can't make up the shortfall you could ask, but what is Plan B if they say no?

As a landlord, I'd be unimpressed and it would trigger alarm bells.

Your housing cost is your number 1 priority and £50 a month isn't very much in the grand scheme of things. It's not the amount that's important, it's the implication of where your rent is in your priority which would concern me.

I'd actually be more understanding and willing to help if a tenant approached me with xyz disaster (job loss/car write off whatever) and they couldn't pay £500 this month or anything at all for two months or whatever. Sometimes shit hits the fan, we're all human, I'd get it.

What sounds like a 'considered' proposal to underpay £50 for three months...not so much.

I'd ask.

You can ask, but be mindful that most landlords are putting rent up at the minute with increasing costs, interest rates etc, rather than reducing it. I'd probably take out a 0% credit card and spend on that instead then pay it back asap

No way
Do not give your landlord the impression you are struggling financially.
Cut corners elsewhere.

I'm a landlord and this type of request would concern me. I'd be concerned that the tenant was going to be entering into a repeat pattern of not being able to pay.

If you're short £150 over a 3 month period are there not any other options you could look at first? Borrowing £150 from family or friends? A short term agreed overdraft? Working an extra job for a few months - depending on your current work hours even being a take away delivery driver for a couple of nights a week would get an extra £50 +.

I'd definitely consider all of those alternatives first before going to your landlord - particularly if your tenancy is up for renewal any time soon.

@Peachplum29

I have been at the property for 8 months now and have paid on time each month

Are you on a 12 month rental contract? If so definitely don't do this unless you are happy to potentially not have your current tenancy renewed in 4 months time.

I'm an accidental landlord as I rent out my former home, my tenants have been in a number of years and if they asked to pay £50 less for 3 months but then pay £50 more for 3 months I would say yes as they've always paid on time and been good tenants. However I would be a little concerned about how tight there finances are and it would make me a bit nervous and I'd have not been impressed on a tenancy of only 8 months.

8 months isn’t long. Cut corners elsewhere. You’ll have to if they say no anyway so work out how you’ll manage.

@Lindy2 I initially signed for 6 months and it is now on a rolling contract

@Peachplum29

I have been at the property for 8 months now and have paid on time each month

Well that’s just a basic really. I never understand people who say that they pay their rent on time as if it’s some sort of badge of honour. Having said that you could ask but be prepared for them to say no and to be concerned about your ability to pay going forwards

I think with only having been there for such a short time then they may be less likely to agree to it.

My partner is a landlord and has done similar in the past but that was with a very long term reliable tennant.

Rent and mortgage are classed as a priority debt and should ALWAYS be paid first, try delaying some other things first or see if you can access an overdraft facility but never jeopardise the roof over your head