LL wanting to put rent up - Twat!

[SantanaBinLorry]

This is the 5th house ive lived in with a shit back door.
They are aaaaaall unusual sizes, of course! I swear LL's must think we're fucking stupid, maybe we are!

Its the faux surprise... YOU FUCKING KNOW THE DOOR IS SHIT....why are you just now, 30 odd years after owning the house realizing it might need fucking replacing.

Don't get me started on the 80% of the double glazing that has blown - most with broken latches, the hall way full of black mold, the stair carpet that was fitted by monkies, the frayed carpet at EVERY door way, no extractor in the bathroom - more black mold. The stain on the kitchen ceiling from a leak (not our fault) 2 years ago
Outside tap broken, inside tap dripping 2 ltrs a day, over flowing guttering and the back fence has just blown down. Also the fact we offered more rent each month at the beginning of our tenancy as we were desperate to secure the property, and we are STILL waiting for our new TA since the renting regulations changed in Wales last year.

Txt this morning to say he was putting rent up by £50 from next month.

I know I'm not unreasonable, hes a twat and I just needed to rant.
I've rented all my life, will never own, late 40's and two teens and I'm just sick of being treated like shite by moneygrabbing bastards!

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You mention in your last post about, "We are very aware he could decide to end our tenancy whenever he wants, Its an awful imbalance of power." Are you aware @SantanaBinLorry that LL's cannot end a tenancy? The only people who have the power to end a tenancy are the Courts and the tenant themselves. Of course, a LL can serve notice, but that in itself doesn't end the tenancy and the power is very much on the tenants side. There is information on the Shelter website, if you need reassurance. It costs LL's thousands of pounds to evict tenants, so it's unlikely your LL would go down this route just because you ask for repairs to be done, and in some circumstances, it would be seen as a revenge eviction if your LL did so. LL's actually have little power compared to tenants, this is why so many LL's are selling up, and the rental market has a shortage. I know laws are now different in Wales, and I'm not up to speed on them as I don't have any properties in Wales.

You aren’t doing yourself any favours OP, you sound like a bit of a nightmare

I'm just giving the other side of the coin to the 1000th 'my landlord is a twat for putting my rent up' thread this week.

Don't live in HIS house if it's that bad. Buy your own.

@SantanaBinLorry please ignore the landlordy trolling. Focus on the advice you need.

This. I reckon your LL would be glad to get rid of you if you behave like you have on this thread.

@ReadingSoManyThreads
Ta, yer we know he cant 'kick us out' but he could sell up, or serve notice anytime, its a risk with renting and its sucks.
Thanks for the info. We've been looking into it since the new regs came in last year...theres a whole bunch of stuff he should be doing.

The rent txt and the strange sized back door tipped me over the edge a bit today 😂

I agree with your post. But mumsnetters really don’t like landlords and have championed every change in the law placing all the power with the tenants, and which has now made being a landlord pretty impossible, subsequently resulting in a reduced pool of private lets. They just don’t, or choose not to, get it. I’ve used private rentals most of my like, and have had decent landlords. Without the private rentals, I would have been on the streets, as I didn’t qualify for social housing. Slumlords should be banned from renting out, 100%, but people shouldn’t blanket accuse all landlords of being crap.

I am a landlord as well, it is a business like any other (I know it doesn't feel like that) I am a landlord as my husband died & I was left with a small lump sum & 2 children to support - so I invested in property.
You need to do your research is your rent at the market rate? If this takes you over market rate you can disagree, you can also try to negotiate. Would you consider meeting in the middle? If you are below market rate then there won't be much you can do. (sorry)
If you claim benefits you will require written notice of the increase to provide to your council (separate issue) - if you agree to the increase & start paying it then it is not required to be in writing. However you also need to check your contract, does this restrict the amount it can be increased by (normally a %) or does your contract specify that a section 13 is required for an increase.
What notice period does your contract specify for an increase.
With regards to works required have you requested them in writing? (Email)
If you have please follow these up again in writing asking when you can expect the works to be completed & requesting timeframes - as part of negotiations you could suggest a 2 month notice period during which at least some of the works are done.
I suppose it really depends how you think the landlord will react?
I know that rules are a bit different in Wales though, to those suggesting more regulation have you considered that will cost money & unfortunately in the short & long term that will affect tenants.
I only wish my tenant had contacted me instead of trashing my house

Sorry I can see you have updated while I was typing

Yes, capitalism touches everything. It’s always exploitative, but regulation and competition (and regulation to enforce competition) can take the roughest edges off, so in certain markets, like the supply of food, it might be the least worst option.

The housing sector in the UK is unfettered rentier capitalism. People with capital can borrow money, buy a house, rent it out, and charge enough money to cover their repayments. People without capital can’t get a mortgage but need a home, so have to rent and, without adequate social housing, are forced to rent from landlords whose mortgage costs they are covering.

You can put blame on governments if you like - they certainly deserve it. But it takes a certain kind of person to be happy living off the backs of others.

I’ve got a couple of BTL properties, but I’m selling them. This thread just confirms why - I’m sick of the “landlords are all greedy twats” narrative, mortgages have doubled over the last year, I can’t increase my rents by that much so they no longer cover the costs. Both sets of tenants left (of their own volition) and I decided it was time to sell up - although both properties were left in such a state that they cost thousands to put right before I put them on the market. Two less (fewer??) rental properties - no big deal, but I know there are many more like me. But these are three-bedroom houses, gardens, nice enough area and near good schools, and at £100K you’d think they’d be perfect first-time buyers houses, so at least that might help, right? Doesn’t seem that way though, so I do wonder where all these people are who want to buy and can’t because they’re being thwarted by landlords.

No she doesn't . Why bother commenting at all if you are going to put something so pointless 🙄

That’s my observation from the tone of the OPs posts.

Sounds like a shit situation OP!

Most threads about LLs seem to descend into this blame game though. This awful housing situation we have on our hands is the result of decades of housing policy failure by both parties. And here we are making it all the fault of private LLs rather than govt. classic deflection.

It IS a shit situation, thanks to those that understand. And for links and info ✊
So many of you agreeing its a terrible standard of housing has spared me on to get everything collected written down, approach the LL with a 'to do' list, give him chance to respond and take it from there. We strongly believe he's been stalling on issuing the (new style Welsh) TA as these include many more things he has meant to be doing.
I cant be sure obviously, but I doubt very much he will sell, he mentioned that it was for his daughter and all paid off etc at viewing. We think he's rested on his investment so long doing bare minimum and this is the first proper regs have been in place to chase his up, he's probably shitting himself at how much he's going to have to spend to get it up to scratch!

The rest have clearly never lived long term renting or contemplated the billion reasons people may do so, probably a bit snobby and thick maybe?. Or as PP said LLady Trolls 😆I imagine crying into their 2nd glass of wine getting aggy on the net trying to assuage the fear and regret their 'investment' might take some actual work and further investment - and that their investment is actually someones home!

LL has completely ignored our message about the fence blowing down. I mean not much he can do whilst its still blowing a gale, but he could at least acknowledge the message.
I stand by my first statement, Twat.

Won't somebody think of the landlords.

People and their vile comments about a whole group of people, outrageous.

Last sentence proves what a lovely person you are, no idea why anyone who dislike LLs at all.

I take it all back, you sound lovely 🤔

It seems that it is impossible to have a sensible conversation about renting on MN without people resorting to childish and bitter comments like that,
@ReadingSoManyThreads has come across as an intelligent, decent person unlike most of the rabid LL-haters on this thread.

Well said @TheCupboardUnderTheStairsAtTheMojoDojoCasaHouse

Very big power imbalance and refusal to ever take a financial hit for a so called 'investment'.

@Flowersbutpain which part is childish? Telling someone forced into renting that they have no interest in owning property is shitty. I make no apologies for my sarcasm.

If you're another poor oppressed landlord them tough. Deal with it.

Any business that provides a shit service or a shit product can expect people to complain about it. Housing is no different.

And from the OP's description (blown double glazing units, insecure external doors, lots of mould etc.) their complaint seems pretty justified.

And OP was too busy buying the landlord's house for him/her; doesn't tend to be a lot left over to save for your own home when you're facilitating someone else to own multiple.

Not everyone is competent enough to run a business. Sadly, not enough landlords recognise that they fall into this category.

If you saw the state of the property from the outset why on earth did you want to live there and even offer to pay more to live there and then complain about it? It doesn't make sense.

I'm a LL and I'd never rent out a house I wouldn't be prepared to live in myself. My maintenance man gets all jobs done quickly for me. I use the same gas and electricians for all my portfolio so they come quickly for me because I give them quite a bit of work. I have a waiting list and my current tenants often ask for a house for a relative or friend. My rents are fair. I've never put rent up excessively like I've seen on MN a few times but I do put it up a bit each year with inflation. Many of my tenants have been with me for 5-10 years. Their DC have been born there and I'm even a Godmother to one DC. I've been invited to 3 weddings over the years and I've fed a cat when a lady had to go into hospital for 3 days. Not all LL are nasty people. You get good ones and bad ones the same as the rest of life.

Most LL have interest only mortgages so no one is buying the house for the LL.