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Original poster

Help please - rent 'holiday' - confused

99 replies

Lostatsea1988 · 23/03/2020 09:53

Hi everyone

My husband and I are self-employed and work in our industry (music) has all but dried up. This month's rent is paid but I contacted my Landlord to ask if they would consider a rent holiday if we need one in the next few months.

She replied to say that they could only afford this if they applied for (and got) a rent holiday from their mortgage company (fair enough) but that they would be charged around £600 extra in interest (if the holiday was for three months) and that this would need to paid by us or by our guarantor (my husband's dad). She said "I'd encourage you to think whether there are any other options open to you (e.g. a family loan, housing benefit etc) before embarking on this path".

She is a decent landlord and we love the house, but I'm so angry - why should I pay my Landlord's mortgage?!

OP posts:
PlywoodPlank · 23/03/2020 10:03

You're asking for a loan. Which is fair enough, but you will pay interest on the loan. That's why she's asking if you want this loan, or want to investigate other options.

Original poster
Lostatsea1988 · 23/03/2020 10:06

is this legal though?

OP posts:
Absentwomen · 23/03/2020 10:09

Firstly, I think your LL is stretching the rules there around the additional interest as a result of a mortgage holiday. There are strict rules around rent increases.

I'd recommend you and your partner putting in a joint UC claim. I know that UC gets a lot of poor press. But the minimum income floor has been removed for self employed people.

As for paying your LL's mortgage, that's effectively what rent is. An unofficial mortgage.

viccat · 23/03/2020 10:10

As a landlord - no, that's not how it works. You shouldn't have to pay the extra interest.

I do agree with her that you should explore all options available to you though in terms of benefits (I'm also self-employed and understand most of us are not eligible though!).

NotSuchASmugMarriedNow1 · 23/03/2020 10:11

I guess what the other OP said. You are, in effect, asking for a loan.

Have you done what she suggested and looked at other options.

Original poster
Lostatsea1988 · 23/03/2020 10:12

she is saying it's not rent increase though, she's saying it's her right to be "indemnified against loss cause as a result of rent arrears pursuant to clause 10".

We are in London. UC will only cover a third of our rent. We have savings but i don't know how long they will last.

OP posts:
Original poster
Lostatsea1988 · 23/03/2020 10:14

@NotSuchASmugMarriedNow1 I am looking at the other options (savings and a loan from my husband's Dad - i don't want him getting sued!! Shock), that's why i haven't asked her for the rent holiday yet, I just asked would she consider it in future.

OP posts:
Absentwomen · 23/03/2020 10:16

Then she has a case to argue. If as a result of a rental holiday, for you, she incurs additional interest, she will be passing it on. If that £600 is to be over the remaining term of the mortgage, then an arrangement could be made to add into the rental payments.

When is your next rent review due?

AnyFucker · 23/03/2020 10:18

What your landlord days is true

If she takes a mortgage "holiday" she will pay more in interest the long run. Are you prepared to pay more rent the long run ?

The govt has sold us a turkey with these "mortgage holidays". They have always been available but they are hardly used for the above reason

You have a guarantor, op. They signed to pick up the rent if you cannot. Between the 3 of you, do everything you can to cover the rent and then get back to her.

AnyFucker · 23/03/2020 10:21

You have a guarantor, you have savings. You are in a relatively good position.

Why do you assume your landlord is in a better financial position than you ?

BonnesVacances · 23/03/2020 10:23

Is the additional £600 interest instead of paying rent at all or as well as?

If you will also be repaying rent arrears surely the additional cost to her is the interest incurred for the period over which you're repaying the arrears? What would it cost her if you accrued rent arrears and paid those off over a period of say 6 months?

DianaT1969 · 23/03/2020 10:28

Have you checked for sure that UC only covers 1/3 of your rent? Use the calculator on Martin Lewis's site, as that seems up to date with the latest changes. The others weren't when I checked last week.
My sympathies OP. You would think LLs would take the mortgage holiday to ensure continuity for good tenants. How fast do they think they'll find new tenants with both rent and a hefty deposit available once this is over? Very short-sighted.

AnyFucker · 23/03/2020 10:31

Another thought: how will tenants be fixed if their landlord's houses are repossessed ?

The govt announced there will be no new proceedings to evict tenants. There was no similar pledge regarding mortgage repossessions.

Choccyp1g · 23/03/2020 10:34

Assuming she's got an average length mortgage, the extra interest will be spread over maybe15 years.

So you could offer to pay the rent arrears over the same period.

FFSFFSFFS · 23/03/2020 10:37

If you have savings why should you not use them to pay your rent?

Original poster
Lostatsea1988 · 23/03/2020 10:38

@Absentwomen we are on a rolling contract now, so no rent review due

OP posts:
Original poster
Lostatsea1988 · 23/03/2020 10:40

@BonnesVacances no the 600 is on top of rent, that's the extra mortgage interest she says she will pay if she takes a 3 month holiday.

OP posts:
Original poster
Lostatsea1988 · 23/03/2020 10:41

@AnyFucker she's in a better position than us because she owns a house!

OP posts:
Ohfeckohfuckohshit · 23/03/2020 10:43

OP, everyone is in the same boat. You've asked her to help you by passing on a 3mo number but she will be penalised for doing so, to the tune of £600. Of course you should pay it!

Original poster
Lostatsea1988 · 23/03/2020 10:44

@DianaT1969 we have been good tenants and I know she needs to pay her bills too but I just don't see why we should pay her mortgage interest. That wasn't what I thought the government were doing with this

OP posts:
Ohfeckohfuckohshit · 23/03/2020 10:46

Holiday.. clearly. Not number!

AnyFucker is spot on.

KaptenKrusty · 23/03/2020 10:50

I’d play hard ball with her tbh - she needs you right now - be hard to find a new tenant if you were to walk right now.

I wouldn’t get into taking a rent holiday from her though either as she sounds like she’d make it difficult for you!

I’d just hold off on paying until you can and - you can’t be evicted during this time anyway!

Get back on your feet and then pay her back eventually

DianaT1969 · 23/03/2020 10:51

Apply for UC if you haven't already. At least that will be some of the rent paid, backdated to today. Would you consider looking for somewhere cheaper as you are on a rolling contract? Few people will bounceback to the same level of income after this, so a cheaper rent would take away some of the stress. Difficult to move right now, especially if a lockdown is imposed, but not impossible.

Original poster
Lostatsea1988 · 23/03/2020 10:52

Kapten she could go after my partner's dad though if we do that, he's already phoned us in tears asking if he can get out of the guarantor contract

OP posts:
SarahInAccounts · 23/03/2020 10:52

If she is doing you a favour she shouldn't be out of pocket. Can't you see that?