Not to accept rent increase as Landlord has done no maintenance

[MarciaMarcia]

Ho, help me out please!
The LL hasn't put up the rent for a couple of years. Now wants a massive I crease of 500 more per month
As the rental market prices and mortgages have gone up, cost of living etc.
Ok, yes fair enough, however in the whole time I've been there , no maintenance has been done on the property at all. I now have a broken appliance, various lights that need repair, heaters that never worked and a mould issue related to an isolated window which apparently is getting repaired. The house would be worth more if for it's condition. The LL feels they could get up to 1000 more than I'm saying per month but they are dreaming.

They have assigned I'll sign the increase. I do t know what to say? Advice on how to manage this?

if you want to stay, go back and offer a rent increase that you think is reasonable and negotiate.

Careful, because if you dont accept it at all you could risk them evicting you to get tenants in who will pay.
counter act there rent increase with a increase your happy with if they dont have intention of doing the repairs BUT mention if they do the repairs before the increase youd be happy to pay the £500? Then list the repairs that need doing.

my LL did this, but the roof & guttering had been leaking for 2 years. We counteracted and mentioned if they did the repairs wed pay full whack.. two weeks later he got the roofing guys in and got the repairs done!

My guess is they just want you out. They see it easier to get you to leave voluntarily by increasing your rent by a ridiculous percentage.

I dont think legally you can choose not to pay, sure you can provide a list of reason why you dont think you should pay but I dont think it works that way

If the damp problem is getting worse it could be worth contacting the council, they can enforce repairs if they are a health hazard. If you don't pay the rent the LL will go to eviction anyway

Can you afford the increase if they commit to doing the work immediately?

Send the landlord the diary of dates when you have reported each of the repair issues.

That sort of increase does suggest they want you to leave, unless you have been paying under the market rate up until now?
You CAN ask Shelter for advice and try and negotiate but unfortunately the Landlord sets the rent and you decide to pay it or move out

After Liz’s Truss debacle, our mortgage was up for renewal and jumped from 800pcm to 1800pcm tracker. We increased the rent to cover it and made a net loss - as you have to pay tax on any rent (regardless if it pays for your interest only mortgage in full). The new amount was actually still in line with the market. Needless to say, we sold pronto.

They issued a section 21 as they want to sell
I have negotiator stay an extra before they sell. Id be happy to negotiate on a couple of things to be fixed including guarantee the mould will go.

Appliance fixed.

I'm worried if I don't accept the price they'll go forth and carry on with the eviction

I'm trying to negotiate as I've been paying I see market rate but now the price is wildly inflated . It's in bad disrepair and no maintenance. No offer of a new dishwasher even .

You probably just need to move, if they want to sell they will need you out.

I don’t think a landlord has to carry out all repairs in order to raise the rent. There might be other action you can take in relation to the repairs but as others have said you either negotiate the increase or move out, unfortunately.

Also bear in mind if they want to sell the position may be that they simply don’t have the money for repairs and/ or they will seize on any reason to get you out anyway. In your case I think I’d be looking to move out asap.

It is awful, but 2 separate issues.
If you refuse the increase then they'll evict you.
500 is a massive increase, it is a terrible time for renters. Renters have very little choices.
I love the rent controls 4% yearly in most counties in Ireland

I assume you are in England as section 21 is mentioned. How was the rent increase notified if informally via text for example you don’t have to accept but as you’ve found they can issue a section 21. Is the rent increase market rate are they charging the same for comparable properties? If they are refusing to negotiate not much you can do but the rent increase won’t be legally enforceable. However landlord can issue a S13 which you can challenge via tribunal within 1 month of receiving if the increase isn’t market rate compared to similar properties. If you do noting the increase will become legally enforceable.

you need to basically weigh up do you have an alternative? Where would you move to? If the same area and the increase is market rate you’ll end up paying the same anyway. Will they cancel the section 21 if you agree to the increase

Your second line: I assume should say you have negotiated an extra X weeks/months before they sell?
Now he wants an extra £125 pw, so he either wants you out, or smells desperation and a chance to make an extra buck to upgrade the house before selling.

IMO nothing you do now will prevent that eviction if the landlord wants to go ahead with it, so it comes down to how easily you can find somewhere else to live. If the section 21 has been issued they hold all the cards as to when to enact it.
I'd be urgently looking for somewhere else.

The only exception is if you don't have a gas certificate (and possibly an energy performance one?) which would invalidate the section 21.

They want to sell, gives the impression that they dont have the money to do the repairs.

You don't have much leverage here! You can mess them around and play for time, make it as hard and drawn out as possible for them to get you out of the property. Use this as a way to buy yourself time to find another place and console yourself with the thought that they won't get nearly as much for the place as they want/ need and they'll have to pay capital gains tax etc.

Does the tenancy stipulate they should repair white goods? I always supplied them as a gesture but made clear it was goodwill.

Have they served notice of increase together with the s.21? Seems an odd thing to do tbh.

I'm sure if you decide to move out, the place will be snapped up anyway....

We don't actually know the percentage, though unless it's a mansion/expensive area 500 is likely to be a big percentage.

We had this a couple of years ago. Our landlord wanted to put the rent up 10%. We said we'd pay a nominal increase to stay another year because there was building work next door that was noisy, dirty and disruptive and we didn't think he'd find new renters for the increased rate.

You need to say similar based on the repairs you need, but in an non confrontational way, something like

"we'd be more comfortable with a 100/200 pound increase, but only after these maintenance issues have been resolved..."

he may not want to spend money to fix things and then you'll keep the normal rent rate (potentially). No harm having a go. It costs more to get you out, redecorate and then advertise it for new people.

Yes, sadly it will, some other poor sod who cannot get a mortgage will be subjected to damp and over inflation rent charges.
I assume you're a landlord?

If they have asked you to leave it’s is probably because they can’t afford to provide you with a new dishwasher or make structural repairs. If your rent hasn’t increased for years then it’s unlikely that you are paying current market rate.

Someone else will pay it if you don’t so go carefully!