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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

my landlord’s unable to absorb cost of living increase

319 replies

originstory · 02/07/2022 12:31

so he’s raising my rent during a 1 year contract. AIBU to refuse?

I got a letter from landlord saying my rent is going up by 5% (£40). he explains that he’s no longer able to continue absorbing rising costs so has to pass it onto his tenants. regrets having to do this, feels forced into it by circumstances beyond his control etc. if I had a rolling month to month contract, fair enough, I’ve had rent increases in previous properties which is just what happens. but I signed a 1 year contract in February so didn’t think he could raise the rent during that contract? my googling appears to back me up but maybe someone will tell me I’m wrong. however, I’m considering just sucking it up for an easier life. AIBU to dispute this?

reasons to dispute it:

  • I have a contract until Feb 2023 so I feel he’s being cheeky to increase rent during it. Obviously it will increase when that ends and converts to a month to month rolling contract, which is fine.
  • The cost of living increase is hitting ALL of us (and will continue to get worse) and I must admit I have less sympathy for a landlord who owns multiple properties than I do his tenants
  • I don’t have a high income (at all) due to reduced capacity for work due to a chronic illness, which he knows. in fact it’s so low that I started claiming UC for the first time last year, so I resent paying him an extra £40 a month that could go towards my gas bill or food shopping

reasons to just agree:

  • he’s a good landlord, sorts repairs and problems promptly and reasonably
  • he’s correct in that he’ll be paying more for hallway lighting etc
  • he’s a nice man so I’d feel bad saying ‘i’m not giving you more money, too bad’
  • 5% is a very reasonable increase so it seems stupid to cause problems over it. If it was more I’d have less of an issue saying no
  • I felt lucky to find a landlord to rent to me in the first place due to my low income/ being on UC so it would be stupid to sour our relationship over £40
  • If I refused to pay I’d be wondering if he’s going to get rid of me when the contract is up because I ‘caused trouble’ and then I’d be back in the position of not knowing if I can find anyone willing to rent to me. i had several agencies refuse to let me even view properties as I’m on UC (illegal but it still happens)
  • honestly, I don’t like confrontation and it’s simply easier to just agree

AIBU to dispute this?

OP posts:
Original poster
originstory · 02/07/2022 12:59

i thought the same @lostintheglowofmotherhood . If I’d seen someone else post this I’d probably have replied ‘hell no, tell him absolutely not, he can’t do that!’ but in reality…

OP posts:
Original poster
originstory · 02/07/2022 13:00

Squareflair · 02/07/2022 12:57

Is your rent including bills?

i wish!

OP posts:
BattenburgDonkey · 02/07/2022 13:00

If you struggle to find rentals and want to live there after the first year I would just pay it as I wouldn’t want to risk him
evicting me as soon as the contract allows.

IncessantNameChanger · 02/07/2022 13:02

As a landlord I would think hes got no right to do this in a fixed term.

Also just to get things straight it's my only property. I rent where I live so multimillion tycoon is BS for some of us. I have a btl that just needs to keep it's own nose clean. As long as it supports itself its actually making money in market growth. Profit isnt in the rent tbh. It's a long term investment that cashs out on sale. Yes it makes me money. I wont deny that. I'm not hard done by, by having it.

I'd ask him outright why he thinks he can do this in a fixed term but your happy to at the end of the fixed term.

Yes mortgages do go up but he should have at least 50% buffer zone to absorb it.

Once mine goes up beyond the mortgage I might have to sell up as amazingly the bank dont a shit about my circumstances either.

But here he is plain in the wrong from what you have said. If he is £40 from missing the mortgage that's not your issue. If hes £40 down in profit he should have factored his acceptable profit margin in. I always ask if the rent can go up. It's never a demand. I'm open to negotiations. Or within feasibility, refusal.

user1477249785 · 02/07/2022 13:03

OP he can't do this. But in your circumstances, I'd be inclined to pay it. I think the risk is that otherwise he will ask you to leave at the end of your contract. It's really really not ok but it may be the reality

waveyourpompoms · 02/07/2022 13:03

It’s possible he isn’t aware he can’t do it so early on a fixed contract, especially if he’s done everything else by the book. He’s probably just done it for all his properties, most of which are probably on a rolling contract.

I would just pay it. It’s a small increase, he’s a good landlord and rented properties are hard to get right now.

Hankunamatata · 02/07/2022 13:05

Offer £20

Original poster
originstory · 02/07/2022 13:06

user1477249785 · 02/07/2022 13:03

OP he can't do this. But in your circumstances, I'd be inclined to pay it. I think the risk is that otherwise he will ask you to leave at the end of your contract. It's really really not ok but it may be the reality

i suspect you’re right yeh. i should just pay it

OP posts:
JustAnotherViper · 02/07/2022 13:07

Is he managing it directly? We had an agent manage a property for us and we had some serious issues with them doing things/making decisions on our behalf that they simply weren’t authorised to do. it ended up with the ombudsman.

Especially if there’s multiple properties in the mix it may well just be everyone has received the letter without any common sense being applied.

feellikeanalien · 02/07/2022 13:10

If you agree to this OP is he likely to then ask for more when the cost of living goes up again?

Original poster
originstory · 02/07/2022 13:12

JustAnotherViper · 02/07/2022 13:07

Is he managing it directly? We had an agent manage a property for us and we had some serious issues with them doing things/making decisions on our behalf that they simply weren’t authorised to do. it ended up with the ombudsman.

Especially if there’s multiple properties in the mix it may well just be everyone has received the letter without any common sense being applied.

he’s managing it directly, the letter came from him and I text him directly about anything related to the property

OP posts:
BobLemon · 02/07/2022 13:13

It sounds like you may be in a flat? And that this increase is to cover the maintenance of shared spaces? You could look at it like a service charge and I’m sure the cost of providing services like lighting, heating, cleaning (any gardening?) etc will have gone up.

NothingIsWrong · 02/07/2022 13:13

I would counter offer saying that you'll pay the extra, but ask for a new 12 month contract to reflect the increase and an understanding that you can't afford another increase in that time period.

resets the clock sort of and gives you certainty for longer?

Original poster
originstory · 02/07/2022 13:14

feellikeanalien · 02/07/2022 13:10

If you agree to this OP is he likely to then ask for more when the cost of living goes up again?

I would be very surprised if he did as he doesn’t seem like that. His letter was apologetic and explained why he felt he had to do this. He might increase again in the near future but I would be really really surprised if he did. But who knows

OP posts:
perfectstorm · 02/07/2022 13:14

Hintofreality · 02/07/2022 12:38

Like many, many others my mortgage payment has increased. Shall I just refuse to pay that as well?

If you have a fixed rate mortgage, agreed in February, and the bank or building society contact you to say, "Soz, can't afford that after all, we're changing the agreed rate to a higher one..." I think you should tell them they are going to keep to the agreed contract, yes.

OP is not contesting the right of the landlord to increase rent when the current contract ends. She's questioning his right to break that contract, and institute a new one more in his favour.

OP: no, he can't do it legally, but he's not a bank or building society who can just absorb what may be hugely higher costs, and good landlords who look after their properties and tenants are sadly less common than they should be, so I would agree, unfortunately. It might be worth asking him if he can agree to a new one year contract at that new rate, breaking the existing one (his request is effectively breaking it, anyway) so you have a bit more costs certainty for at least a little longer before moving to a rolling one? He may be open to that given you are doing him a favour by agreeing this, and it would mean you can't be forced to pay even more, or leave, for one further 12 month period. I don't think costs are going down any time soon, and if the other tenants haven't asked for that then he may agree to it. He probably feels awful asking you, given your situation, anyway - and not all his tenants will agree to it at all so it may be a case where your being accommodating means he wants to be so back, as well as making him feel less uncomfortable over your own situation.

The economic situation right now is horrendous for everyone. I'm so sorry you are in this situation - it's the last thing you need when you felt settled, I'm sure.

flutterbybabycakes · 02/07/2022 13:14

Well you talk about moving to rolling when the contract ends but if you refuse the increase now he will probably just not let you stay.

You need to get on the housing list if you don't want a mortgage. I don't ever want a mortgage or to own a building so I got socially housed. permanent home, reasonable rent, no responsibility for the building itself. This was my dream and living it is great. I'd hate to private rent with a family although it was fine before children, I just moved around a lot.

kickupafuss · 02/07/2022 13:15

Could you try negotiating? Offer £20 and agree to pay more when your contract runs out?

perfectstorm · 02/07/2022 13:15

NothingIsWrong · 02/07/2022 13:13

I would counter offer saying that you'll pay the extra, but ask for a new 12 month contract to reflect the increase and an understanding that you can't afford another increase in that time period.

resets the clock sort of and gives you certainty for longer?

Cross post! This exactly.

ivykaty44 · 02/07/2022 13:20

how is the landlord going to evict the OP? by next year will section 21 actually still be a thing?

The landlord is running a business, but he has also made a legally binding contract with op that he needs to keep. Im sure if OP decided not to pay the rent he'd not be happy

berksandbeyond · 02/07/2022 13:21

flutterbybabycakes · 02/07/2022 13:14

Well you talk about moving to rolling when the contract ends but if you refuse the increase now he will probably just not let you stay.

You need to get on the housing list if you don't want a mortgage. I don't ever want a mortgage or to own a building so I got socially housed. permanent home, reasonable rent, no responsibility for the building itself. This was my dream and living it is great. I'd hate to private rent with a family although it was fine before children, I just moved around a lot.

🙄 it's not that simple to just 'get on the housing list' as I would think you'd understand

perfectstorm · 02/07/2022 13:24

Was the letter personal to you, or did it seem a standard one with your name and the exact amount of the increase added in?

I ask because if the vast majority of the tenants are on rolling contracts, and he has a lot of tenants, it could just be a mass mail and those with ASTs got caught up in it.

Schools do this with low attendance letters, famously. The worst case I heard of there involved a child who had low attendance due to their chemotherapy treatment for leukaemia. Sometimes, computer says yes when it shouldn't.

If you get on with him, and the letter was in no way reading as personal to you, then a text just to say, "Hi, just wanted to clarify if that letter was only for those on rolling contracts, or whether you're in a bit of a spot right now and want to amend the AST accordingly?" might be an idea.

If he responds to say yes, it's to you, it then opens the door to suggesting a new one year AST in the new rent, which is generous of you and makes his life easier when you aren't legally obliged to (as I'm sure he will realise!) and if it wasn't, you don't agree to an increase he'll almost certainly accept but that he never intended to institute to begin with.

A landlord with lots of properties knows a fixed term rental is not something he can adjust at will. Either he is pretty much back against the wall and badly needs to do this, or he never meant those with ASTs to get the letter, and it was for rolling contract tenants only.

Mariposa80 · 02/07/2022 13:25

It's so depressing thinking that you'll be labelled a problem tenant for just wanting your landlord to comply with the law and your contract.

antelopevalley · 02/07/2022 13:26

Find out your legal position and enforce it. Tell him I am sorry this seems harsh, but the cost of living crisis means I have no choice but to stick to the law.

Anotherselfemployedcleaner · 02/07/2022 13:26

I do see your dilemma.

Is it worth starting by asking him the question ‘did you mean to send this letter to me as I’m still within my first year tenancy/contract?’ just in case his other tenants are on rolling terms and you’re the only one who isn’t?

Reallyreallyborednow · 02/07/2022 13:26

*I would counter offer saying that you'll pay the extra, but ask for a new 12 month contract to reflect the increase and an understanding that you can't afford another increase in that time period.

resets the clock sort of and gives you certainty for longer?*

this. I would be concerned if you refuse he may put the rent up more come renewal, to recoup the money lost.

so if you’re otherwise happy, £40 for a further year may be a safer bet than £80 once your contract runs out…

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