To not pay my rent?

[StuckRent]

Help!

Letting agent has issued this months invoice for my rent and it has increased by a significant amount.

I have had no notice at all of this.
Usually I get a notice of intention to increase rent form by email that asks me to acknowledge receipt and then sign and return.

I have not despite multiple other emails from them including them acknowledging payment of the old rent amount and a property check.

I obviously did not acknowledge or sign and return as I did not recieve it.

No follow up, no chasing, no emails, letters or calls asking why I had not dealt with it.

The landlord has multiple apartments so it is possible I have just been missed or my details have been sent incorrectly to the wrong person.

AIBU to not pay an increase which will leave me short last minute and say I want the correct notice?

Am I under any legal obligation to pay it?

Can I demand evidence it was sent to me (given that the Landlord could easily issue a form not and pre date it)

I would pay your regular rental amount and say the uplift portion you want to review with them. But defo pay at least your usual rental amount.

Thanks
Normal rent amount has already been paid.

Have you even called them to see if it's a mistake? You even say - it's possible my details have been sent incorrectly to the wrong person.
Maybe check?

The rent increase in on the system we use so I doubt it is a mistake.
I meant that I wondered if my notice to increase rent had been sent the wrong tenant or mine had been missed as there are 11 apartments he owns locally.

I have emailed in writing to both the main lettings manager and the general email because
That is our usual communication method
I want everything in writing
I wear hearing aids so struggle on the phone.

Ok good luck. Maybe get the facts before you panic. Of course you need notice etc for a rent rise

Thanks
I am autistic so instant panic is my whole life.

I am also autistic - but I like to be organised and informed. 🤣 We're all different

In your shoes, I'd simply email and say that there seems to be an error on the system and your rent has been increased. Since you've not had any of the correct notices of this, you assume it's a mistake. Usual rent has been paid, please rectify the system error. Cheers.

They will undoubtedly protest, but they need to follow the contractual notice process and are quite possibly trying to squeeze in a rise now, so that the next one follows quickly in the new year before the new legislation preventing unreasonable rises comes in. So two 5% rises rather than 10% in March.

Pay the original amount.

https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/private_renting/rent_increases

This might help.

To increase your rent the agent is obliged to send you an official (section 13 notice) form with one months notice. If you pay the new rent without comment this shows that you have, in law, accepted it. The form gives you the option of going to the rent tribunal if you disagree wiith the raise. Rent tribunals take their own sweet time and in the meantime yu are entitled to go on paying the original rent. By paying the original rent you are showing that you disagree with the (unofficial) communication they have sent you.

You can also attempt to negotiate a rent rise which a relative of mine recently did. The LL wanted to raise the rent by about £100 a month. Relative said she could only afford £30. She pointed out that she was a pensioner and LL would have to evict her if they could not reach a compromise. Evictions are expensive for landlords. The agent had made a few blunders (protected her deposit late etc) and these were also dropped into the mix. In the end a rent increase of £50 per month was negotiated and paperwork to this effect was issued.

The agent has to be able to show that they issued the correct paper work and that you recieved it. Its not acceptable that it "went somewhere else". They have to prove you recieved it. Such things are best sent by recorded delivery.

Send an email reminding the LL rent can only be increased with a written months notice. This will rise to 2 months written notice from May 1st.