Rent increase - fuck fuckity fuck!!!

[BlondeWaves]

Moved into my house 2.5 months ago and now having to move as had a letter from the landlord to say rent is going up by 150 a month. I KNOW I am being unreasonable but I am sat here sobbing because I've just settled here with my young child and the thought of having to go through all that upheaval again is so stressful. I can't afford the extra 150, I'm already stretched with the way everything has increased. This could happen again and again and I just hate our government and the way things are at the moment. I have no resentment towards my landlord as I know his mortgage has realistically gone up by more than 150 a month, but fuck, I'm so stressed. Don't even know what I want from this thread, maybe a handhold, maybe to be told I need to suck it up (weirdly I respond well to tough love) but I need something. Anyone there? 😭

How can he do that? He may want to but surely you have a 12 month contract?

And playing devils advocate even if they were repossessed how is the tax payer worse off ?

Well obviously it wouldn't be something that happened overnight. Not sure why you think that would be the case?

It'll take a whole lot of planning and joined up thinking to sort out 40+ years of under investment.

I agree, if the land Lord has a mortgage(s) he could be looking to find £100’s ++ just to stay solvent …

I read a thread that a woman became a mystery shopper/ reviewer on ' Shepper' and made enough money each month to keep her afloat...worth a try x

@BlondeWaves You can try and apply for a 'discretionary housing payment' from your local council. It's a top up on what you already get from UC. It's means tested but they may be able to give you some extra for a time.

Landlords get vilified by MSM and Shelter etc = landlords sell up = less properties more demand
plus government take away ANY tax relief for landlords and interest rates go up = landlords have to put rent up to cover costs

Speak to your local council and see if you can get help to pay the rent. Even if your working you maybe able to get help with your rent.

Though thinking about it, if it's new claim you would have to go through universal credit for help with your rent.

Anyone can sign on universal credit (it's for working people too) and you maybe able to get some help with your rent through universal credit

You have nothing to lose by checking

Sorry not to have read all 19 pages of this - so this may have already been answered - but are you sure you're getting all the benefits you're entitled to?

Sending hugs OP 🤗 it is very hard was there years ago myself wondering why I worked full time to have less money than friends on benefits in council houses. N8t everyone is guaranteed one these days even with kids! Really hope you get a break as sounds like you need one. I used to work in a pub at weekends just to breakeven could you do that get you of the house and meeting people. If your parents are happy to babysit once a week. 2nd job you would pay tax but no NI unless you go over 12k or least thats how it was done. so better than increasing your hours.

@ToInfinityAgain I don't agree with the comment that landlord is scumbag, but presumably your "losing £30k per year" is based on mortgage payments v rent, and you have a repayment mortgage? And at the end of it you get to keep the house?

Hi OP I have not RTFT so apologies if this has already been mentioned. Can you apply to the council for a discretionary housing payment (DHP) ask them for the form. Be very thorough when explaining why you can explain the sudden increase and perhaps that you are looking for a cheaper property. The DHP should help buffer for a few months but amounts a lengths of awards can differ.

*when explaining why you can’t afford the sudden increase!

I'm so glad you've asked that as with 19 pages and almost 500 posts I don't think anyone would have thought of that.

Do you have a fixed term contract? If so, they cannot raise the rent until after the fixed term ends and then only with notice.

My good god there needs to be a law against this. You sign a contract and a landlord shouldn't be allowed to change the rent until the contract is up. Simple as that. No ifs, no buts, no loopholes. That is unbelievably shitty I'm so sorry op. I'd contest it as much as you can.

Well it kind of is isn't it Snoozer because, in the end, if the landlord can't cover their costs then they'll sell the property and the OP would still be in exactly the same position. And more and more landlords will be in this position and will sell their properties which will mean even less properties to rent. See the problem! I know a few people who own rentals (have done for years) and are selling up due to the increase in expenses (its not just the mortgage) and changes in the law which give landlords even less rights against tenants who don't pay/make a nuisance of themselves/don't look after the property etc...

It's kind of like saying 'it's not my problem that there's a war in Ukraine, I'm not paying more for petrol/energy/food...' it's illogical.

At risk of getting flamed I’m a landlord. Your landlord can’t increase your rent within the period of your agreement, once that ends you either get a new agreement or go onto a rolling monthly term. They also have to inform you of any increase by giving you a section 13 notice. That notice gives you the details of how to appeal the rise to a tribunal. £150 increase seems extremely excessive to me and I feel your appeal would be upheld. Here’s a link to help you www.citizensadvice.org.uk/housing/renting-privately/during-your-tenancy/challenging-a-rent-increase/

I don’t think that’s fair. 2.5 months ago the Queen was alive and we hadn’t yet had the disastrous budget from Truss which tanked the economy and sent interest rates shooting up. Pension funds were not yet dropping like a stone and the BoE had not yet had to spend billions bailing them out. It’s a totally different situation now.

Sorry for the stress you’ve been going through.
unfortunately I am not 100% sure about his mortgage excuse.
how do you know about it ?
I have a mortgage and was renting my property and I know that I am locked into a good rate for the next 18 months, so in respect for all the changes going on at the moment I wouldn’t increase my rent just for the sake of it.

unless he is in a variable mortgage that can change as it goes then yes, but still unfair putting this on you. :(

Maybe have an honest talk and see what he can do to help you ?

Unless it’s in very expensive part of town it’s unlikely their mortgage has gone up by £150 pm. Are you not on a fixed contract with some kind of break cause.
it must be worth talking to the landlord for some kind of compromise??

How do we know this landlord has even got a mortgage?? Sorry, but this is mean just before Christmas...Scrooge. I feel for you BlondeWaves

On the OPs other thread she makes it clear that the rent rise will be in month 7, so a few months in, she's been told it will increase in 2 months time. So, after the 6 month initial period. I strongly advise the OP to get specialist advice from Shelter on how to handle this if she wants to go down the presenting to the council as homeless route, which looks the most likely.

How so? It could easily be a £50,000 mortgage going from 1% to 5%, which is £2,000 per year extra in interest.

Not having at least. 6 month assured tenancy at the start seems wrong. I’m a landlord and all my tenants get at least 6 months, the council asked us to increase this to 12 months which we have done for a couple. Don’t think what your landlord has done is legal. You need to get advise. Horrid way to treat a tenant