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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:
gamerchick · 18/10/2023 22:39

caringcarer · 18/10/2023 22:28

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.

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And what's the answer,.it's 1+1? Certainly not allowing landlords to fleece people the way they are. The answer is staring governments in the face. It just doesn't benefit them much.

webster1987 · 18/10/2023 22:41

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.

I never understand this argument. Say this were to be the case, how many rental properties would be out there? It would obscurely only drive up the rental prices because there would be scarce availability?

NotStayingIn · 18/10/2023 22:48

Is it just you? Could you rent a room for a while instead? I appreciate it's not everyone's idea of fun but it might be cheaper and a way to ride this out?

Dillane · 18/10/2023 22:50

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.

How very naive 🙄

Grmumpy · 18/10/2023 22:53

You have a contract for one year so he can’t just put the rent up. Check your contract to see whether you have a mutual two month break clause. I think he could then give two months notice but I am not sure about that.

Heelenahandbasket · 18/10/2023 22:57

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.

Yeah right. Why not?

Heelenahandbasket · 18/10/2023 22:59

gamerchick · 18/10/2023 22:39

And what's the answer,.it's 1+1? Certainly not allowing landlords to fleece people the way they are. The answer is staring governments in the face. It just doesn't benefit them much.

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Rent controls in Scotland have led to rents rising more than the rest of the uk. The reasons for this are likely that it has caused lots of landlords to get out the market. It’s also led to an even bigger shortage of properties

QueenOfTheLabyrinth · 18/10/2023 23:01

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.

  1. No BTL mortgages = fewer rental properties
  2. Fewer rental properties = higher demand
  3. Higher demand = Higher rent prices
  4. Higher rent prices = more people in the OP’s situation
dragonfly19 · 18/10/2023 23:03

Landlord won't/can't increase until your 12 months are up. You have loads of time to start looking for somewhere more affordable.

XenoBitch · 18/10/2023 23:05

Sorry this is happening to you.

I have a relative who had his rent jump by a massive amount (£600 to £850). The worry of affording it made him suicidal. I do think there should be laws as to how much the rent can be increased at a time.

I absolutely get why there is a need for private landlords... but having people pay off their mortgages for them (and often at the tax payer's expense) when the same tenants are denied their own mortgages.... it is bonkers.

caringcarer · 18/10/2023 23:08

GuinnessBird · 18/10/2023 22:38

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

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I've already stated it can only be invoked at the end of the 12 months contract on my earlier post but after 11 months is when the LL would set out rent for new contract if OP wanted to sign it. 1 month before end of 12 month contract. LL might just be hiking the rent so much to get her to move out.

obja · 18/10/2023 23:12

It is illegal for your landlord to suddenly increase the rent in the 8th month of a 12-month fixed term tenancy agreement. For a fixed term tenancy agreement like yours, he can only increase it once the fixed term is over, in the 13th month.

Did you go through an agent to rent the property or have you been dealing with the landlord directly?

At the start of your tenancy, did he or the agency give you a How to Rent guide? Has he protected your deposit in a government-approved scheme? Did he provide you with an EPC? A valid gas certificate? If he did not do these things he will be in big trouble if he tries to evict you.

Back to the deposit, if he didn't protect it properly, you could apply to the county court to make a claim for 3 times the amount of the deposit.

obja · 18/10/2023 23:15

Look at your contract. Is there a 6-month break clause? If it's a 12-month fixed term with a 6-month break clause, then technically he can serve two months notice in Month 6.

Did he provide you with those items mentioned in my previous post, and did he protect your deposit properly?

SirenSays · 18/10/2023 23:18

Every time my landlord does this it comes with a cheery note remining us that he can kick us out and find someone else to pay the increased rent.

Original poster
wilderthan · 18/10/2023 23:19

@DaftQuestionForToday
I'm renting a very tiny 1-bed flat. I can't house-share as I have some needs ( around OCD and being ND). I've always lived alone.

OP posts:
Original poster
wilderthan · 18/10/2023 23:22

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.

No, I'm not in hospital. What's a CPN? More info would be helpful. Thanks

OP posts:
Cowlover89 · 18/10/2023 23:23

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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It's 1 months notice to leave in my contract.

Original poster
wilderthan · 18/10/2023 23:23

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 .

Thank you for the advice. I will need to plan out how I want to make a case to my LL. I hope they can be considerate a bit.

OP posts:
Livelovebehappy · 18/10/2023 23:26

I think it should be easier for people to actually get mortgages. It just doesn’t make sense that someone can pass affordability to pay rent, but quite often are refused mortgages. I’m sure there must be something banks and the government can do to make this happen for people. Op I really feel for you. Renting atm is shit. Too few properties, and too high rents. As you’re single with no children, is there any scope for a job change/promotion, to increase your earnings?

Original poster
wilderthan · 18/10/2023 23:27

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?

I can move to a cheaper area, but even that is difficult to find. Rental in London is now a bidding war. I went through hell to get my current flat. The prospective tenant with highest offer gets the keys. It was a nightmare.

OP posts:
Original poster
wilderthan · 18/10/2023 23:31

obja · 18/10/2023 23:15

Look at your contract. Is there a 6-month break clause? If it's a 12-month fixed term with a 6-month break clause, then technically he can serve two months notice in Month 6.

Did he provide you with those items mentioned in my previous post, and did he protect your deposit properly?

There's no break clause in my contract.
I'm. Not sure they insured my deposit. He didn't give me a reference number or anything like that .

OP posts:
Original poster
wilderthan · 18/10/2023 23:35

Livelovebehappy · 18/10/2023 23:26

I think it should be easier for people to actually get mortgages. It just doesn’t make sense that someone can pass affordability to pay rent, but quite often are refused mortgages. I’m sure there must be something banks and the government can do to make this happen for people. Op I really feel for you. Renting atm is shit. Too few properties, and too high rents. As you’re single with no children, is there any scope for a job change/promotion, to increase your earnings?

I just got a pay rise and do a weekend job, yet I can't seem to sustain myself.
I'm very worried about the future. It just seems hard to achieve anything other than paying rent.

OP posts:
CruCru · 18/10/2023 23:57

There are some fairly serious costs involved in remarketing a flat. If you are a good tenant, the landlord will want to keep you. Landlords are not monsters - if you can't afford a 20% rise at the end of your first year, tell him / her that and say what you can afford.

Having said that, I'm not loving some of the comments. Landlords pay out some fairly serious sums (even with a mortgage, you need a proper deposit) and are responsible for maintaining their properties. In return, they receive market rent from people who wish to use their assets. There are landlords for whom this is their business - my landlord at university had his own team of builders, electrician and plumber. Landlords provide a service to people who don't want to (or can't) buy their own properties.

PeloMom · 19/10/2023 00:01

The mortgage on my rental recently increased 35% due to the new rate. I had to increase the rent too. Not to mention increase in all other costs associated (service charges, various fees, all trades that are needed to fix stuff).

Precipice · 19/10/2023 00:17

ElFupacabra · 18/10/2023 22:20

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

Edited
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I said nothing about the OP. OP did not point this out in her OP. We had already a page and a half of comments giving OP advice despite not knowing where OP was and what law applied. What I was correcting was a comment made by a PP, which like hundreds on MN every day, give advice that claims it applies to the whole of the UK, when actually it's English law and the situation elsewhere is very different.

If you think "I wish posters would specify where they are, since laws around many issues are different" is being a prick, you are so paper-thin skinned that you have no business engaging in any discussion whatsoever.