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Original poster

Rent increase - fuck fuckity fuck!!!

575 replies

BlondeWaves · 14/11/2022 11:14

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? 😭

OP posts:
RosaGallica · 15/11/2022 18:41

WombatChocolate · 15/11/2022 17:06

I agree the rental sector needs to work better. Government need to take responsibility for this.

The trouble is, the government is nowhere near to the idea that more social housing should be provided by government. Until they are willing to do this and supply it (not looking ever likely to be honest) then there will be reliance on the private rental sector.

I agree that it’s not right that tenants suffer through poor LL decision making or financial planning. Quite how that is managed though is difficult and vitally the impact in supply of rentals needs to be considered. Saying all rentals should be mortgage free or have 10 year fixed mortgage rates sounds good, but if you removed all the LLs without those conditions, the supply overall would be drastically reduced. It would be tenants who would lose most from that and lack of supply drives prices up. Of course if you want rent controls preventing that happening, even more LLs will leave the sector. You’ll end up with controlled rent but vastly insufficient supply. And the reality is that LLs do need to be able to sell up and access their money if they need to. Yes, it’s right that there are laws in place which specify notice periods and mean LLs cannot give notice before a certain proportion of a tenancy has passed, but guaranteeing a tenant can remain indefinitely or for substantially longer periods, will again mean rental properties are something don’t want to invest in, as no-one can ever say they might not need to access their money. Currently, I’d say it still takes at least a year thinking ahead for a LL to sell up. They might need to wait several months to give the legal notice, then wait for the notice to expire and the tenant to move out - which doesn’t always happen at that point and tenants legally have the right to remain and go through formal eviction procedures which can take many more months. So a LL already can’t just sell-up when they feel like it. That’s right - tenants need protections. However, to expend significantly further makes the market even less attractive.

I agree bad LLs need to be weeded out. There are LLs who dint maintain properties or stick to the law. But there are lots who don’t do these things but do other things which seem to incur the wrath of some renters. Increases in rent (reasonable amounts at the appropriate time such as a year after a contract is signed) or giving notice in accordance with the law, are things which are done legally and without which, LLs cannot continue. If the good LLs are driven out of the market because they have mortgages or they follow the law and decent AST terms about rent rises or giving notice (and by far most tenants move in because they choose to, not because they are given nitice) then exactly where will people live.

It would work if the government were working on an alternative supply of housing to replace the private rented sector…..but they are not. So yes, bad, rogue LLs who act illegally and don’t maintain properties and exploit the vulnerable should be weeded out by regulation that is actively enforced….but it is short-sighted to think all those with mortgages or without specific types if mortgage should be forced out too. Exactly where are tenants going to live if that happens?

That’s a very good summary of the difficulties, even on the owners side, of a private rental system: and some very good reasons why something as fundamentally important as housing should never have been outsourced to the private sector anyway.

Of course, the people on the other side of the equation and their vastly more immense difficulties, have never mattered to the government in this “democracy”.
I am sorry for your difficulties op. I hope you get in touch with shelter and they can give you some helpful advice Flowers

mumwon · 15/11/2022 18:42

none of this makes sense to me (I am a landlord and I belong to NRLA to make sure I obey the law) One - your landlord needs to put your money in a deposit scheme amongst other things (top of head gas safety, right to rent booklet, electric check and proper contract) he needs to give you 2 months' notice, and I am pretty sure with new rules that he must need to give you a 6 months contract. I cannot find anything about doing a month-by-month contract ... please ring contact crisis. He sounds a bit dodgy and definitely not professional - i am also sure there is a restriction about how much increase you can do and that you have the right to actually say no or at least debate this with him. He CANNOT evict you without a court order no matter what kind of contract you have. Court orders are expensive and took 6 months or so before covid and they take even longer now.
If a landlord has a mortgage on a rental property, it is very unwise to be dependent on it paying a high proportion of the cost versus rental.
The landlord now has to pay for all the tenant checks beforehand and yes, the government is very short sighted and cannot see the consequences of its actions. In a few years time they want all property to be a c which is a good idea except the cost and tax methods of this upgrade (and for some properties it's both extortionate and probably damaging - increasing chance of damp on Victorian homes - of which there are many in the rental sector- because of insulating walls, which isn't that cost effective to the landlord or tenant) means that many landlords are looking to sell for that reason. Regarding the tax - at the moment the insulation is a capital expense and cannot be claimed against yearly tax. (Rant on government - nb the horrible court case on that poor boy and the mould who was in social housing is very topical)

Pasc611 · 15/11/2022 18:43

HI OP,
I hope you're ok. In this situation, I would move heaven and earth to get that £40 a week. I would be thinking of every possibility.
-Can work give you any more hours?
-Can you get a few hours work somewhere else? Is there anything on your doorstep?
-Can you make anything at home and sell it?
-My landlord is rich with a big house. When he started to make noises about putting the rent up (he is right too - he hasn't put it up in 8 years) my business had died under Covid and I was absolutely skint, so I offered to clean his house weekly and do his ironing. (It sounds like a lot of work but it isn't once you get in the swing of it) He accepted. It's worked out well as he says he never wants me to leave.
You need to find a way to make money from home as well.
I am hoping that you are young and fit and pray for inspiration and opportunity to strike. Please keep upbeat so your mind is open to possibilities.
I wish I had the bloody money to give you! I am so skint - I lost my last contract today. Keep your chin up and approach it like a logic problem to keep the fear away while you think of options.
🌻

mummytippy · 15/11/2022 18:45

I wouldn't have though you could have had your rent increased immediately. The earliest I would have thought would have been in 12 months time.

I'm sorry you're going through all this stress Flowers

iloveholidays1 · 15/11/2022 18:47

yellowstickerbargain · 15/11/2022 18:24

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.

Show quote history

@yellowstickerbargain Is this sarcastic? Cos I've got to page 9/10 and there seems to be very little of this, although found one from housing officer which was helpful and suggested re DHP - doesn't mean that she's getting all the benefits she's entitled to though. Most of it seems to be shouting about the ethics of renting and @ToInfinityAgain about her millions of pounds London flat.

I'm so sorry OP and hope the situation is looking brighter today - maybe somebody has been able to help?

mummytippy · 15/11/2022 18:48

I believe @mini1275 is correct...

''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''.

mumwon · 15/11/2022 18:49

@iloveholidays1 I think repeating a good idea is worthwhile anyway as it adds more weight to it -

Diamondsareforever123 · 15/11/2022 18:52

I feel for you. Contact Shelter they can advise. We're living in very uncertain times especially if we're not wealthy. The Tories are trying to destroy any safeguards people once had. Stay strong is all I can say.

Leedsfan247 · 15/11/2022 19:05

Existing mortgage rates have not gone from 1% to 5%??

SillieSarah · 15/11/2022 19:06

BlondeWaves · 14/11/2022 12:48

I'm sorry everyone I need to leave this thread for a bit. It's not just the rent that I'm finding overwhelming today. I've already had to cancel my son's club that he loved. Cut back on everything. Looking at selling my car. Sold my jewellery. Etc. I just can't afford to live like this anymore and it's all getting too much. I work full time, get no CMS from child's father. Get universal credit but it doesn't cover everything with childcare fees and rent so high. I can't get a council house as I'm not priority. I just give up. I'm going to switch off for a bit. Thanks everyone for your advice. I'm going to see what I can do.

Just say no,

keep on paying the rent.

wait for a court date.

Thebestwaytoscareatory · 15/11/2022 19:07

Pasc611 · 15/11/2022 18:43

HI OP,
I hope you're ok. In this situation, I would move heaven and earth to get that £40 a week. I would be thinking of every possibility.
-Can work give you any more hours?
-Can you get a few hours work somewhere else? Is there anything on your doorstep?
-Can you make anything at home and sell it?
-My landlord is rich with a big house. When he started to make noises about putting the rent up (he is right too - he hasn't put it up in 8 years) my business had died under Covid and I was absolutely skint, so I offered to clean his house weekly and do his ironing. (It sounds like a lot of work but it isn't once you get in the swing of it) He accepted. It's worked out well as he says he never wants me to leave.
You need to find a way to make money from home as well.
I am hoping that you are young and fit and pray for inspiration and opportunity to strike. Please keep upbeat so your mind is open to possibilities.
I wish I had the bloody money to give you! I am so skint - I lost my last contract today. Keep your chin up and approach it like a logic problem to keep the fear away while you think of options.
🌻

I'm sorry but that reads like something out of a dystopian nightmare.

Despite facing what must have been an incredibly stressfull time you had to sell yourself into servitude to keep from losing your home. Fuck that.

Hmm1234 · 15/11/2022 19:09

Apply for discretionary housing payment from your local council!! Yes they can still award it for private rented. I had this for a year while on maternity leave as their is a shortfall in the rental allowance

FarFromTheStart · 15/11/2022 19:09

Leedsfan247 · 15/11/2022 19:05

Existing mortgage rates have not gone from 1% to 5%??

If you are coming off a fix now (which many will be) then yes, they have.

Justbefair · 15/11/2022 19:14

Have just been talking about this. Our mortgage has gone up a lot, which is hard but still lower interest than a new one. This make me think about landlords paying extra for mortgage and the effects this will have on tenants. They I believe do not just charge just enough to pay the mortgage but to make a profit, years ago when we were renting that was bloody huge profit! My heart goes out to people renting as as it's a no win situation. If on benefits foes the council pay the full amount or is there a limit? If so, how can people live?

carefulcalculator · 15/11/2022 19:23

BlondeWaves · 14/11/2022 11:17

I'm not, it's a monthly contract stupidly and I didn't even think about this when I moved as rentals are so sparse I just had to snap up something suitable when it came around. Took me about 6 months of viewings and being declined for someone to choose me.

Is this legal - I thought everyone had to be on an assured shorthold tenancy?

Do aboslutely NOTHING until you have taken advice from CAB or Shelter. Do not agree to move out - you may have to wait to be evicted. Your landlord would be a fool to push you through eviction for only £150/month - continue to pay your current rent and get legal advice.

carefulcalculator · 15/11/2022 19:24

Leedsfan247 · 15/11/2022 19:05

Existing mortgage rates have not gone from 1% to 5%??

It is remortgaging that is the issue.

LizTrusssPA · 15/11/2022 19:27

And this is why rent caps should have been a thing. With a little room for margin in between for circs such as this. Say a max of £100 increase etc within a certain timeframe.

OP ask the LL if they are prepared to accept a lower amount. They'll lose out in the long run. Our neighbours had to move back in with their parents when the landlord doubled the rent and wouldn't accept their lower offer and ended up selling it at a loss after it was left empty for a year instead.

Mummyofmaniacs · 15/11/2022 19:34

Sugargliderwombat · 14/11/2022 11:32

Your landlord is a scumbag. It's only been 2 months ! I bet he struggled to get that amount so did it lower and is now upping it.

what a nasty assumption!
His mortgage could have gone up by much more - you are obviously nicely protected in social housing as you appear to be unaware how much everybody's mortgages have shot up?

Starryskiesinthesky · 15/11/2022 19:36

This may have been said already but the Scottish Government have made it so that you cant raise rents in Scotland until at least next March and they have made it harder to evict tenants. While it is bad news for landlords it is great news for tenants.

creativelady22 · 15/11/2022 19:37

I think I'd do anything I could to try and find or save £150 somewhere to stay. Is there anything you can do to cut back elsewhere? I know its so hard with everything going up. Moving will cost in itself and there is the upheaval and emotions... Big love, I rent too and it's my worst nightmare xx

TomRaider · 15/11/2022 19:38

FarFromTheStart · 15/11/2022 19:09

If you are coming off a fix now (which many will be) then yes, they have.

Show quote history

And even if they have that isn't 18% rise in the monthly cost

I've just come off a 5year fix at 2.05% 2days ago and immediately fixed onto a 2year fix at 3.3%. that is 0.01% more than the first 5yr fix in 2012.

Back in 2012 we was all thinking 3.3% was incredibly cheap. Anyone who has taken a mortgage or set up rentals thinking a 2% mortgage rate would last frankly deserves all they get.

Or mortgage advisor wanted to know we could afford the mortgage at 8% and went as far as checking us to 12%.

walkinginsunshinekat · 15/11/2022 19:39

Mummyofmaniacs · 15/11/2022 19:34

what a nasty assumption!
His mortgage could have gone up by much more - you are obviously nicely protected in social housing as you appear to be unaware how much everybody's mortgages have shot up?

Show quote history

Should have rented at a more realistic rental?

Gov.uk say what he has done is not allowed, so yes chancer scumbag or unfit to be one.

asdfgasdfg · 15/11/2022 19:40

Yet people on MN think that those that own more than one house and let them out are AHs.

Morgysmum · 15/11/2022 19:43

Sorry to hear this. Landlords suck, ours has decided to sell our house.we have lived there, for 12 years. As they decided against remortgaging the house.
So now with, up to 6 months. To find someone else to rent, whilst still paying them rent, so saving up will be extra hard. Sorry you are going through this, I hope you get some where else that you can afford.

Mummyofmaniacs · 15/11/2022 19:43

walkinginsunshinekat · 15/11/2022 19:39

Should have rented at a more realistic rental?

Gov.uk say what he has done is not allowed, so yes chancer scumbag or unfit to be one.

Show quote history

good try but very ignorant. It is a monthly contract as OP clearly stated... not AST ...........why so vicious? - do you do better?