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Original poster

Landlord wants to increase rent by 20%

164 replies

wilderthan · 18/10/2023 20:58

I moved into a flat about 8 months ago.
I have a one year contract.
I've always paid rent on time.
My landlord has just informed me that he'll like to increase the rent by approximately 20%.
I definitely can't afford it. The new rent will be about 80% of my salary. I'm literally living from pay check to pay check at the moment with my rent taking most of my income

I'm not a regular poster, so not sure this is the right AIBU kind of post.
Please I need advice. What are my rights and how should I respond to them?
I've had a nervous breakdown since the landlord told me this.

OP posts:
kwetu · 18/10/2023 21:54

And I think in uk also you have to have a minimum notice of 2months for any rent increase.

Original poster
wilderthan · 18/10/2023 21:56

Therealjudgejudy · 18/10/2023 21:25

Is it an option to move when your lease is up?

It is, however I'd have nowhere to go.
It took me 3 months to find this rental I'm currently in. This place is close to my work. I would rather not move if I could avoid it. I love being here. I'm happy here.

OP posts:
SecondUsername4me · 18/10/2023 21:59

TravelInHope · 18/10/2023 21:34

Bollocks.
That is not the problem or the solution. I have a property that I rent out, and the mortgage is paid off. But I would be a mug not to charge the going rate. In fact I try to be a good landlord and not increase too much, but it is my sole income during early retirement.

Show quote history

Who do you think will play you in the movie?

Original poster
wilderthan · 18/10/2023 22:01

SecondUsername4me · 18/10/2023 21:50

Are you in England? Have you put your finances into Entitleto website? You may be eligible for some benefits towards your rent, depending on wages etc.

I doubt I'm eligible for anything. I work fulltime, single, no children etc

OP posts:
PigsEnigma · 18/10/2023 22:01

I'm really sorry but it maybe increase the rent or sell. I've had to sell my rental because I cannot increase the rent enough to cover the new mortgage payments. I feel dreadfully sad for my longterm tenant who has been wonderful and looked after my property wonderfully but interest rates mean that I cannot increase my rent payments to cover the mortgage let alone any maintenance needed. It maybe that your landlord has no choice. Sadly, like me, many incidental landlords are having to leave the market because we cannot ask enough rent. Therefore there are less properties available and again this increases the rent on those that are available. I'm so pleased that the sale of my rental property completes Friday. What was my first home and my children's inheritance was bankrupting us. We've lost a fortune in the process.

Original poster
wilderthan · 18/10/2023 22:03

PinkMoscatoLover · 18/10/2023 21:44

My Landlord inreased my rent from £1180 to £1450 for a one bedroom flat🫠

Has the LL said when they’d like to increase the rent? If your tenancy doesn’t say anything about rent increases then they’re not allowed to increase the rent until your 12 months is up. Saying that though, they’re within their rights to up the rent before you sign a tenancy renewal or if you go onto a rolling contract.

Try and negotiate but if they don’t budge then you’ll have to look around for somewhere affordable. I managed to negotiate the rent increase from £1500 to £1450. As if that did anything!

They weren't clear on when the increase will kick in. Thanks for the advice. I'll consider it.

OP posts:
SkyeIsPink2 · 18/10/2023 22:05

your landlord can’t raise the rent until the end of the first year. If you say no to the increase, they may give notice for you to leave at the end of the tenancy.

I’d try to negotiate with the landlord. If there’s a figure you think you can manage, counter off with that.

If you are given notice to leave when the tenancy is up, and you don’t move out, I believe they have to start legal proceedings to evict you.

Original poster
wilderthan · 18/10/2023 22:07

abbs1 · 18/10/2023 21:52

OP have a look on your tenancy terms and conditions as it should have on there the max percentage the landlord can up the rent by. Ours if 8%. Ours just went up by 5%. Also the first tenancy most tenants have is fixed for 12 months and can't be changed until the 12 months is up so check when the LL is wanting the increase to start from.
Make sure all correspondence you have is in writing.

My contract doesn't have anything in relation to maximum % increase. Is there a legal %?
Thank you for the other advice.

OP posts:
Original poster
wilderthan · 18/10/2023 22:07

kwetu · 18/10/2023 21:52

Are you uk? I believe it is a max rent increase of 9% per annum in uk.

Yes, I'm in London.

OP posts:
SocksAndTheCity · 18/10/2023 22:07

kwetu · 18/10/2023 21:52

Are you uk? I believe it is a max rent increase of 9% per annum in uk.

No, there is no maximum increase provided that increase is 'market value' (which can be worked out in plenty of ways to suit the LL or agency).

Mine went up 40% in one go last year and I just had to suck it up because it would be near impossible to find somewhere else. My rent is now more than half my income and in a crappy month it can be three quarters of it.

DaftQuestionForToday · 18/10/2023 22:11

Babyroobs · 18/10/2023 21:03

Pure greed.

@Babyroobs

Grow up.

you know nothing about the landlords situation, believe it or not mortgage increases & other expenses impact land lords as much as anyone else. If the need more rent to keep the property, then the rent has to go up, or they'll sell taking yet another property out of the rental market & there's not exactly a glut of properties as it is!

PinkMoscatoLover · 18/10/2023 22:16

There’s no maximum percentage that rents can be increased too when it’s a private property. Your best bet is to negotiate the rent increase. They also can’t increase the rent until the 12 months is up unless it’s written in your tenancy.

Check that and contact Shelter for advice. You’ll get wrong advice on the internet

DaftQuestionForToday · 18/10/2023 22:16

Beezknees · 18/10/2023 21:24

This is why BTL mortgages shouldn't be allowed. If you want to buy a property and rent it out you should only be allowed to if you have enough money to buy it outright. It's disgusting to expect someone to take on the burden of YOUR mortgage.

Sorry OP, it must be awful.

@Beezknees Another one who doesn't seem to understand the shortage of rental properties. Where do you suppose all of those people wanting/needing a rental property will live if you if you remove a load more private landlords??

@wilderthan would your LL be ok with you subletting a room? Could you rent a room instead of a whole flat/house?

Precipice · 18/10/2023 22:17

SocksAndTheCity · 18/10/2023 22:07

No, there is no maximum increase provided that increase is 'market value' (which can be worked out in plenty of ways to suit the LL or agency).

Mine went up 40% in one go last year and I just had to suck it up because it would be near impossible to find somewhere else. My rent is now more than half my income and in a crappy month it can be three quarters of it.

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Depends where in the UK. There is currently still a rent increase cap in Scotland.

Presumably OP is not in Scotland, since all new private residential tenancies in Scotland should be open-ended, but there are landlords who seem to know nothing about the law of the business they are engaging in, who sometimes still give their tenants ASTs. But I wish posters would specify where they are, since laws around many issues are different.

ElFupacabra · 18/10/2023 22:20

Precipice · 18/10/2023 22:17

Depends where in the UK. There is currently still a rent increase cap in Scotland.

Presumably OP is not in Scotland, since all new private residential tenancies in Scotland should be open-ended, but there are landlords who seem to know nothing about the law of the business they are engaging in, who sometimes still give their tenants ASTs. But I wish posters would specify where they are, since laws around many issues are different.

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Her last post 10 minutes ago stated she was in London. I wish people would rtft before being a prick to the op.

caringcarer · 18/10/2023 22:20

Beezknees · 18/10/2023 21:24

This is why BTL mortgages shouldn't be allowed. If you want to buy a property and rent it out you should only be allowed to if you have enough money to buy it outright. It's disgusting to expect someone to take on the burden of YOUR mortgage.

Sorry OP, it must be awful.

You do know that the majority of LL with a mortgage are Interest Only, so not actually buying the house for the LL, just paying the interest. That said a LL can't increase the rent until the end of the 1 year if a 1 year contract was signed. Are you sure the LL is not just telling you it will go up at the end of the 12 month period? 20 percent is a very big jump in rent it sounds like your LL was in a 1.8 fix and it has run out and he probably now has been offered about 5.25 percent or higher.

caringcarer · 18/10/2023 22:21

kwetu · 18/10/2023 21:54

And I think in uk also you have to have a minimum notice of 2months for any rent increase.

No it's 1 month notice for a rent increase and 2 month's notice to leave.

gamerchick · 18/10/2023 22:24

What a fucking shitshow. Early retirement, paid off but charging the market rate anyway. Pure greed.

And people think, folks should leave SH to go into this mess?

This is what should be looked at. Rent control, rein the buggers in a bit.

caringcarer · 18/10/2023 22:27

kwetu · 18/10/2023 21:52

Are you uk? I believe it is a max rent increase of 9% per annum in uk.

Where did you get that from? It can be any amount provided 1 month's notice is given at the end of a tenancy period. A LL can increase rent to be compatible with other similar properties in the local area.

Lilacdressinggown · 18/10/2023 22:27

I’m sorry you have had a nervous breakdown over this OP. Are you in hospital? If so I would focus on your recovery first. Have you got a CPN? They might be able to help you with letters to say you are not well enough to move and can’t afford the rent.
I hope you recover soon.

bellsbuss · 18/10/2023 22:28

@Beezknees if this was the case then rental properties would be far more expensive as the shortage would be worse than it is now

caringcarer · 18/10/2023 22:28

gamerchick · 18/10/2023 22:24

What a fucking shitshow. Early retirement, paid off but charging the market rate anyway. Pure greed.

And people think, folks should leave SH to go into this mess?

This is what should be looked at. Rent control, rein the buggers in a bit.

Did you see what happened in Scotland with rent control? There are about 80 people going for each house that comes up because so many LL have sold up.

Martin83 · 18/10/2023 22:30

I would try to negotiate with the landlord.

I have several rental properties, I know that I would need to increase the rent by about 20/25% which equates to £150-£200/ month. But I told the tenants that it will be over 3 years by £50/year. So they know and can predict .

MooFroo · 18/10/2023 22:35

Sounds like you’re already struggling with the current rent, understandable if on a single income and with all other cost of living increases :(

Can you move anywhere cheaper/smaller or even shared accomm such as a 2 bed with a friend or housemate?

any expenses you can cut? We just saved £35 a month on car insurance

any way of earning more?

GuinnessBird · 18/10/2023 22:38

caringcarer · 18/10/2023 22:21

No it's 1 month notice for a rent increase and 2 month's notice to leave.

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Not when OP is eight months into a twelve month tenancy.