Rent Tribunal?

[Pikminplayer]

We’re moving out and have given notice, it’s a rolling monthly contract. Unfortunately we move out mid month and landlord says we still have to pay up until the end of the month. Ok that’s the contract, fair enough.

BUT, he has decided to increase the rent by £200 issuing us with a s.13 for the l final month. It seems so unfair that he is demanding a couple of hundred more which only comes into effect for the last month that we’re contractually obliged to pay rent until, although we’re actually moving out two weeks after this increase comes into effect.

Any ideas of what I can do? I’m thinking of a rent tribunal to challenge the increase, but not sure if they will take all this into consideration or just be black and white and say it’s in line with market rents.

O don't know but I've never heard such level of greediness before. I'm so sorry.

Such landlords give bad names to those who act fair and reasonable.

I really hope you get your way whichever way it takes.

That's pretty low of the landlord.
Have they done everything they have to do such as protect your deposit, have gas safe checks, and electrical testing? (I'm a bit rusty on housing regs theses days. They're massive well be more)
They need to be absolutely tight with all the requirements or you could pull these out as a comeback to their (outrageous) rent increase!
Check with Shelter or CAB

Don't pay it. He won't come after you through court for a couple of hundred pounds.

They must give you at least 1 months notice of an increase, and you can challenge it. Won't be worth their while I suspect to fight your challenge.

How much notice are they giving you?

I was given a month's notice and the deposit is all protected etc.

Don’t pay it. What will he do? He wouldn’t win a case.

From what I'm aware the Tribunal will look to comparable properties in the vicinity to see whether the rent charged is comparable and that is part of the crux of a challenge to a rent increase. If the increase makes the rent a lot more than local prices then go for it but it might be a drawn out process.

I suppose the alternative is to just not pay. Enforcement for that is usually serving notice and obtaining a possession order which you won't be concerned about given that you're moving. Landlord could pursue the value of the increase as a civil debt so you have that as a risk but they may just decide not to bother.

The rental market is awful at the moment. Nothing protecting tenants in private rentals from these sky high increases and I think it's abhorrent. I feel for you

Thanks for your reply. That was my concern, whether a tribunal would only look at that. It's difficult to say really if it's comparable to other rentals in the area.

I'm actually buying a house, so they can take it from the deposit if they feel they have to . I won't be making the house nice for him when we leave, again, he can take it from the deposit. I think that's all I can do, apart from not pay the increase.

I think they may look to whether there's disrepair that the landlord hasn't tended to as well from what I've heard. The only problem with that though is ideally you'd have to get a building surveyor to do a survey of the premises to confirm this to tender it as evidence for the Tribunal. With no guarantee they'll agree that the increase is unreasonable. I think your proposed way forward is the best option

How much notice did you give them?

2 months, but only need to give 1 month

If I were you I would give them one months notice now and see if you could move in to your new place sooner.

LL's only have to give 1 months notice of rent increase but can only increase rent once in a 12 month period. Has your rent been increased in the last 12 months? I think it's very mean of your LL. I always give 2 months notice and only increase at the end of the fixed term period if they want to stay, thus giving the tenant the option to agree rent increase or leave at the end of 12 months. I think it is legal but very nasty of LL.