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AIBU?

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Original poster

Landlord increasing rent, can I negotiate?

30 replies

BadClown · 04/03/2023 17:20

Just had a letter through from my LL saying he wants to increase my rent by £75 a month. It doesn’t sound like much when I say it like that, but it’s a huge amount of money for me at the moment and I’m really not sure I can afford it. Has anyone received notice to increase rent and managed to negotiate? Is it possible to refuse? I’ve only lived here just over a year and finally got the kids settled and in school, I don’t want to move, but I’m really panicking about finding the extra money for this?

OP posts:
KatyKlanger · 04/03/2023 17:23

Are there any comparable properties up for rent? What are they going for? If less, maybe you can negotiate on price.

If not, you might have to try to convince him that you paying a bit less than someone else could still be better as he (hopefully) knows you are ok and are keeping the place decent vs a new person who could be anyone.

EngTech · 04/03/2023 17:26

You can but ask but might be worth looking at alternatives if they don’t negotiate

Sad fact of life but a lot more people would pay the increase, a case of supply and demand 😔

Precipice · 04/03/2023 17:28

You can't refuse in the sense that you can't carry on living there and paying the original rent. You can refuse in the sense that you can choose to move out.

You can certainly try to negotiate. For example, if he's been very slow at getting repairs done and you've had to suffer significant inconvenience because of the lack of repairs while having no rent reduction for a reduced provision, etc. In terms of success, it's more likely that you'll be able to get the landlord to stall the increase slightly than to avoid it altogether.

Some people do manage to reduce the proposed increase by saying that they will choose to move out rather than pay it, but this depends heavily on the rental market and how realistic the landlord's chances of getting someone else to rent at that price will be, so it's not so likely.

Your first step should be to check whether the landlord is actually able to increase in the manner that he proposes. Is he giving you enough notice before the proposed date of increase? Is he allowed to increase the rent at this time? There are legal restrictions on both of these things.

Squidlydoo · 04/03/2023 17:28

As a previous landlord, I would definitely explain your situation. It will certainly be in the landlords interest to have good long term tenants rather than changing to someone who may be less reliable.

Having said that mortgage rates are increasing, so he may have no choice but to increase the rent. Unfortunately “land lording” just isn’t financially viable for many now, for some that may be a good thing, but for landlords they are caught between the rock and a hard place.

is your land Lord a professional landlord with lots of properties or someone who lets a house?

WinterMusings · 04/03/2023 17:29

I don't know legally, sorry. There's no harm in you replying to say you simply can't afford an increase or saying you can't afford £75 but could stretch to £20.

I'm sure someone will be along soon to tell you the legal position.

but presumably l, you won't find anything cheaper anyway?

My friend is in HA, AFTER they moved in, having been verbally informed there would be no rent increase during the 7 year term, was handed a schedule of increases over the 7 Year term. It was scheduled at 3%!this year, they've just had a 7% increase. Roughly £68 per month extra. Taking it just over £1000 pm (we're in the south east, it's a small 2bed, new build) he was moaning at the price, (fair enough!!) but the cheapest private rental is £1500. It's older & no parking/yard not garden! Nearest to his us £1700.

it's ridiculous.

SeasonFinale · 04/03/2023 17:34

Yes. It is likely that if you can offer something they may decide that you leaving and having to source a new tenant and have void period etc it is better for them to keep with you with less of a rise than find someone else unless the market rents are a lot higher and there are loads of people wanting to rent.

Fireyflies · 04/03/2023 17:35

It's well worth asking, and explaining that you're keen to stay but would find that a bit of a stretch and would he accept a bit less. If the landlord says no, you can either accept the increase or find somewhere else, so it's more an "asking nicely" than meaningful negotiation sadly.

Are you claiming UC btw? If you are, and your rent is below the LHA level for your area (you can check this online) then your UC should get increased to cover the new rent. So do let the DWP know the new rent if that's the case. You'll also be getting an inflationary increase on UC in April too, so that may help.

FoxInSocksSatOnBlocks · 04/03/2023 17:38

Of course you can’t refuse Confused

You can ask for it to be lower, but they don’t have to say yes.

Original poster
BadClown · 04/03/2023 17:41

Thanks for all the advice. Rentals in my area are gold dust, almost never come up and they’re snapped up before they hit an estate agents website usually. I do get some UC, but my rental is above the level they pay so I’m already above the threshold for their payments. It’s more than 10% which seems like a lot to me?

OP posts:
Pardon45 · 04/03/2023 17:42

My landlord tried to increase my rent by £50 pcm. I told him that I couldn't afford the increase. I suggested that we meet in the middle £25 pcm. He agreed. If your a reliable tenant it's easier to stick with you than advertise the property, do viewings and references etc. Any money from an increase could be swallowed up very quickly with jthe property beiing vacant for a month

KatyKlanger · 04/03/2023 17:44

BadClown · 04/03/2023 17:41

Thanks for all the advice. Rentals in my area are gold dust, almost never come up and they’re snapped up before they hit an estate agents website usually. I do get some UC, but my rental is above the level they pay so I’m already above the threshold for their payments. It’s more than 10% which seems like a lot to me?

Ultimately, if you can't agree something, he can serve notice to you - and he might if the mkt is booming. Sorry to say.

Siennahh · 04/03/2023 17:45

Your landlord can't refuse their mortgage increase, keep that in mind when you're wanting to refuse to pay it.

Pardon45 · 04/03/2023 17:46

FYI. If he's s dick you don't have to allow viewing during your tenancy. You are entitled to the quiet enjoyment of your property.

Neighbour23 · 04/03/2023 17:46

Our mortgage has just gone up by £200 per month-and that was a good deal! I guess it depends on their financial circumstances. Maybe it was supposed to be higher and this is their compromise.

TwilightSkies · 04/03/2023 17:53

Your landlord can't refuse their mortgage increase, keep that in mind when you're wanting to refuse to pay it.

So OP has to pay the landlords mortgage. That shit is everything that’s wrong with private landlords.

Densol57 · 04/03/2023 17:56

I told my tenants ( 2 properties ) I will not be increasing the rent this year due to the crisis but may have to next year and certainly the year after when the fix runs out if the mortgage is more. I prefer good tenants than an extra £75 odd a month. Hope you can meet in the middle with the LL

Densol57 · 04/03/2023 17:58

TwilightSkies · 04/03/2023 17:53

Your landlord can't refuse their mortgage increase, keep that in mind when you're wanting to refuse to pay it.

So OP has to pay the landlords mortgage. That shit is everything that’s wrong with private landlords.

How naive!
most buy to let mortgages are interest only
if it wasnt for private landlords there would be even less properties to rent

Moraxella · 04/03/2023 17:58

@TwilightSkies even corporate landlords are putting their rents up. HA have gone up by 7% this year. What makes you think they are a better option?

Oysterbabe · 04/03/2023 18:01

It's worth asking.
I haven't put the rent up on our flat for 5 years. I need to remortgage it in the summer and will have to increase it then, otherwise I'll be subsidising the tenant. Living costs are going through the roof for everyone.

Wombats23 · 04/03/2023 18:02

My agents do renewals at market rent then tell me. Sometimes people negotiate, I don't mind at all & try to accommodate them.

It depends on the landlord tho, some like to change tenants to get a bigger uplift.

Personally, I think that's short-sighted, it's far better to have continuity. I have left rents get too far from market rent & then it gets a bit awkward but a discount is fine, as there are costs to tenant changes.

Original poster
BadClown · 04/03/2023 18:09

@Siennahh landlord has hundreds of properties and owns them all outright (think titled gentry who own whole villages and pass them down to their sons)

OP posts:
Original poster
BadClown · 04/03/2023 18:11

Thanks for the help, it sounds like I’m ok to call on Monday and suggest a half way point that won’t bankrupt me but will still give them an increase

OP posts:
LumpyandBumps · 04/03/2023 18:14

It’s fine to try to negotiate. It won’t necessarily work, but if you have paid on time and not damaged the property, you should be in a better position.

I don’t use letting agents but I get regular phone calls from them offering to market for increasingly higher rents, and the upward pressure is ridiculous at present.

I don’t normally increase rents within a tenancy, so some of my tenants are paying much less than the current inflated ‘market’ rents, but they pay on time and look after their homes, which is sometimes much better.

LumpyandBumps · 04/03/2023 18:21

BadClown · 04/03/2023 18:09

@Siennahh landlord has hundreds of properties and owns them all outright (think titled gentry who own whole villages and pass them down to their sons)

I only saw this after my post. I wish you luck. If they have lots of properties it may be more difficult as they might feel they need to apply the same increase to everyone.
There is a large estate/ small village near me which sounds similar. They are the coldest, worst maintained, hovels I have ever seen, absolutely disgraceful.

Original poster
BadClown · 04/03/2023 18:35

@LumpyandBumps my landlord is great to be honest and I’ve never had an issue asking for a repair or fix. It’s one of the reasons why I’m so keen to stay. I’m just so worried that I’m barely managing now and if this increases and then the electricity keeps going up, and food etc.

OP posts:
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