Expect empathy from landlord b/c upcoming surgery

[Booktote]

After nine years, our (large, commercial) landlord raised our rent by 28% citing market rates, we tried to negotiate and while they met us halfway we still can’t afford it so have to leave. (Not our first raise, it’s increased in line with inflation every year until now) Timing couldn’t be worse as I have upcoming cardiac surgery, and will struggle to pack up our house during that time (not to mention house hunt etc). Was going to have the surgery last week but it got cancelled and I’m waiting for the new date, which will be in the next weeks or month. Need to move within eight weeks.

we have asked landlord for flexibility: we’d either find something and move asap, before surgery, within the next couple of weeks. We’d like to pro rata our rent for the remainder.

If we can’t find anything, we’d like to stay for at least three months after the surgery.

They have said no.

Do we have any rights? Are there any precedents from similar situations which we could refer to in order to get them to agree? Just that question really, I’m not looking for alternative solutions as we’ve considered all options (no family or friends to stay with to bridge any gaps, etc etc).

Much has changed since the Renters Right Act came into force from 1st May 2026. Have a look here at rent increase guidance: https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/private_renting/rent_increases

I'd ask Shelter or Citizens Advice. They'll know best.

Your landlord's behavior is outrageous!

Bump

Appalling behaviour from the LL. Do you have a local renters’ union you can join? Also second contacting Shelter and CAB.

Thanks. I’ve tried both citizens advice and shelter but they are very busy, so I am not getting through. Will keep trying

They have to give you 4 months notice, unless of course you have already given notice?
To be honest if you stay and keep paying the rent it will take them ages to evict you, so they might not bother.

I would never advise this, but in your case, just stay and by the time they evict you, it all goes to court, you will hopefully have recovered x

@Teenagerantruns they’ve followed the correct procedure, it’s two months under the renter’s rights act

The nuclear option… it would definitely stress me out to resort to this but it’s a good argument to make if all else fails. From that perspective it would be easier for both parties to reach an agreement as it would cost them time and resources to evict us

Highly unlikely they will want to evict you as it means they cannot rent the property out for 12 months afterwards. If you leave on your own accord they can rent it out again. So id stick to your guns. Have you contacted the council?

As long as they pay rent it's fine

The strangest thing happened yesterday. Out of nowhere there was an email from the landlord agreeing to the rent we had proposed during the failed negotiations, plus a few percent. So we are staying! I have no idea what happened but we are good for another year, meaning we have time to think about our next steps. Was my landlord reading this and changed their mind I wonder 😅

Great news. I hope your surgery goes well!

That's good news.

Aw thats great news they must of thought its not worth getting a new tenant in who potentially might not pay when they have a good standing tenant already. Hope your op goes well x

I am happy for you op, but shocked at the people telling you to break the law! Especially when you are getting major surgery...like you need the extra stress.

Unfortunately landlords are running a business. Like it or not they set a price for renting that they think the market will match. They have costs and a need to make a profit like any other business.

Would you advise the op to walk into tesco and pay the price of their shopping from a year ago and just walk out?

I'm not a landlord btw, never have been never will, it's just MN has a funny view of them as being evil money grabbing parasites. Where as this one clearly isn't

I’m glad your landlord has been able to be flexible here, and hope the surgery goes well.

Congratulations they agreed your proposed rent increase and you can stay for another year! Goood luck with your surgery!

You don’t understand the law. It isn’t ’breaking the law’ to stay. It is totally lawful to remain after a notice expires, the landlord then has to go to Court to get you out, if they don’t do this they are the ones breaking the law. (Criminal & civil law under the Protection From Eviction Act 1977) If you have never been a landlord and don’t know the law maybe best not to muddy the waters with poor advice?

Fair enough but its completely bloody morally wrong though. Just because the law says you can ask like a shit, because it's been drawn up with no regard for one side of the contract, doesn't mean you should act like a shit

But it isn’t acting like a shit. Landlords are business owners; good business owners factor in risk and cost. Including tenants behaving totally lawfully.

So the landlord who might just have one house should suck up losing money because they should.

So if, for example my mate whos a builder spends 3 months building an extension, pays the labourers, the sparks, for materials...he should wait for his money until the customer is ready to pay him?

Its a flawed argument. Remember that the landlord would have got another tenant lined up for when the ops moved out...so in your world its tough shit for that person/family who are now homeless as they can't move to the property and will have given up their previous home

Really the landlord should wait till the tenant's moved out and he's got the property ready for the next person moving in, before he gets another person ready

Surely that's the best way to do it

Oh poor landlord- did you miss the part where he has had money from OP for nine years!?
She was only asking for a bit of consideration for a short term heart operation and you’re calling her (hypothetical) behaviour shit.
Shame on you!
oh and op - for future reference pp is correct. It’s 2 months to give notice but your LL has to give you 4 months. And also your tenancy is now automatically a month to month rolling one - no annual renewal.
If your landlord isn’t following this, he’s the one breaking the law.

Which they can and will persue you for

I think your be unrealistic as harsh as it is s it’s not per it just business tbh they care as much about you as you do about them