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Original poster

Private landlord taking advantage

33 replies

Monkee4 · 03/04/2018 20:09

I am currently renting privately and my tenancy is coming to an end in the next couple of months. I received an email from the management company saying that they were delighted to say the landlord would like to offer me another contract but the rent would be £45 per month more and they the agency would be charging me £125 for presumably printing a piece of paper for me to sign. I have told them my salary has not gone up at all so I am not crazy about the increase but haven't given my final decision yet. What can I do?

OP posts:
StellaHeyStella · 03/04/2018 20:22

Negotiate on the £45/month rent increase, what is this as a percentage, and is it unreasonable? I'd offer a much smaller increase to show willing. The landlord will want to keep you as a tenant assuming you've not been any hassle and paid on time etc. The cost and effort of a void if you leave will be a major pita for the landlord plus they'll have to pay a hefty fee to find a new tenant. I don't think there's a lot you can do about the agency's fee but could be worth an ask?

Psychobabble123 · 03/04/2018 20:24

Yes what percentage of your current rent is £45? Because it may not actually be unreasonable. The agents fees are a joke as always of course.

Original poster
Monkee4 · 03/04/2018 20:33

Hi it works out as 5% increase so I guess not unreasonable - just annoying as I will be £45 a month worse off. Shall I bargain for 2 or 3% then do you think?

OP posts:
Jon66 · 03/04/2018 20:42

I'm a landlord and if you were my tenant I would want to keep you. I usually look at what the rent increase should be by checking similar rentals, so if she is paying 800 and the going rate now should be 850, I will split the difference at 825. It's a win, win. Offer 20 and see what they say.Couch it in terms of 'I'm sorry I really want to stay and I love the house and it feels like home, but I haven't had a pay increase for x number of years, will you agree just a small rise in rent?' It costs me about 600 in fees for a new tenant not to mention decorating and cleaning, so it is worth their while to hang on to you. If the agent says no ask to talk direct to the landlord. Good luck.

StellaHeyStella · 03/04/2018 20:47

Make sure you've done your homework before you call the management company. Could you get somewhere else comparable locally for less?
Also bear in mind that the landlord him/herself may not be fully aware that you are being asked for a rent increase and that this could make you give up the tenancy - the management company will be on a percentage so absolutely in their interests to shove rents up where they can.

Original poster
Monkee4 · 03/04/2018 21:08

Thanks guys. I thought there may be a few landlords on here so good to have your views thanks Jon. I do really like the place, I have made it very comfortable and it is home for my daughter and myself and our very well behaved dog - they do know about him! It is not unreasonably priced for the area so i will do as you suggest and offer £20 as you suggest and see what happens. Blooming management company are thieves!

OP posts:
specialsubject · 04/04/2018 09:33

Demand landlord contact details and get in touch.

Allthebestnamesareused · 04/04/2018 09:37

See if you can speak to the landlord direct because some agents do this without the landlord knowing!!

Firstworlddramas · 04/04/2018 09:44

Also are you willing to sign a longer contract? I.e sign a 12-24 month increase. Landlord gets more commitment and you avoid agency fee between now and then?

My mother agreed to hold someone's rent when it meant they signed for 24 months

A win win for ll and tenant and one in the proverbial s for agency

PiggyPoos · 04/04/2018 10:31

I've been here for 5 years and they've forced us on to fixed term contracts each time charging us £125 ish. They also charge the landlord as well.

I asked to go onto a rolling contract which was refused and they did suggest a longer term one with break clauses in

We ended up signing 2 years but now we need to move out. The letting agents don't seem to think this will be a huge deal as we can pay them (yet another) fee and they'll just remarket it.

I think it's def worth saying you'll sign a longer contract but only pay x more

Plus I've said in the past I've wanted something doing like carpet in a room and painting etc.

helloBuddy · 04/04/2018 10:45

It automatically goes onto a rolling month to month agreement if you don't sign the contract. One agent wanted a fee for me to sign it so I didn't and they didn't pursue it. I just ignored their requests. Another wanted a new contract signing so that we had to give three months notice to leave which I thought was way to long. Both of these automatically went on month to month agreements and both got a months notice when I wanted to leave.

specialsubject · 04/04/2018 12:14

read your how to rent guide as to what happens when you go on to a rolling contract.

didn't get one? Can't be evicted...

Original poster
Monkee4 · 04/04/2018 15:34

Hi thanks guys I have noted all your comments hellobuddy and specialsubject (how do I get that to go in blue like other clever posters...) very interesting points thanks
knowing my management company they will issue me with a fine and a threat for not paying as they did once when I was 3 days late paying (due to the fact I had no central heating and it had taken them 2 months to not sort it!!!!) so on speaking to someone in their own office they suggested withholding the rent until it was sorted! and that was the response. I didn't have the guts to call their bluff though

OP posts:
specialsubject · 04/04/2018 18:05

Withholding the rent is never the right answer.

Who the hell do you rent from? This is appalling.

Original poster
Monkee4 · 04/04/2018 20:16

RA Bennett ! It was October and so not as cold as it could have been - it was a combination of a landlord who doesn't give a s...t and bad staff at the management co basically. Not replying to numerous emails, never available to speak to, etc etc. They have changed some of their staff recently and got a lot better I am pleased to say! probably because they had so many complaints. They are owned by Countrywide I believe - I will be very cautious in future who a property is managed by believe me.

OP posts:
helloBuddy · 05/04/2018 10:58

I got a threatening letter when the rent wasn't paid because the property was taken over by a new agent but the original one didn't know!

It's not worth their while pestering for new contract fees because your basically not agreeing to it and it'll automatically go into a rolling contract. My brother did this as well. It's better for them to have a tenant than evict a tenant on the basis they won't pay a renewal fee.

Original poster
Monkee4 · 05/04/2018 23:36

OK so if the contract has run out how can I stay if I don't have one?

OP posts:
GrumpyPantz · 06/04/2018 00:04

When your fixed term contract expires you automatically go onto a rolling contract. When I rented the agent wanted £100 to sign a new 6 month contract after the original 6 month contract expired. I realised they'd charge me that fee to re-sign every 6 months! So I ignored them and just let it go onto a rolling contract and stayed for another 2 years. They kept warning me that I had no security on a rolling contract and I ignored that too - I was a good tenant and I knew the landlord wouldn't boot me out.

specialsubject · 06/04/2018 09:04

Please please get the how to rent guide from gov.UK.

Dodgy agents love clueless tenants. You have to get informed.

helloBuddy · 07/04/2018 18:48

As @GrumpyPantz says, it'll automatically go onto a rolling contract and as for having no security, you'd have exactly the same really. The landlord has to give you two months notice for you to leave and make sure they give you all the correct notices etc. It can be a long drawn out process and results in them having to go to court to get you out if you didn't play ball. It can be unfair if they have difficult tenants especially if they are not paying rent but unfortunately the law makes it difficult to get them out easily, hence why it is their best interests to keep a good tenant even if it's on a rolling month to month contract. You don't have to have a paper copy of this, it just automatically goes on to this if nothing else is signed.

sinceyouask · 07/04/2018 18:51

Why is a 5% rent increase reasonable? Interest rates have not risen by 5%. Inflation is not 5%. Wages certainly aren't up by 5%. Why should rent rise just because?

specialsubject · 07/04/2018 18:54

Inflation is well over 5% for electricity and insurance, which we all buy - and the landlords costs may have rocketed due to mortgage changes. But unless this is charge what you like London, no sane tenant will agree a rise that big.

Whenthereshope · 07/04/2018 19:02

If you're a good tenant do not pay that ridiculous admin fee to renew. This happened to me so I rang up and said I won't be paying it, put me on a rolling contract and I suggest you ring the landlord and let him know that you're at risk of losing me for your £165 ( or whatever it was) . I got a txt from the landlord a few days later saying he was sorry and he would sort out the "fees" with the agent. No landlord wants an empty property. A good tenant who always pays and causes no damage is worth holding onto!

Original poster
Monkee4 · 08/04/2018 09:10

Thanks everyone. I will definately read my rent guide and do as you all say. They shouldn't put the rent up 5% - especially as no one in the private sector gets a pay increase at all. Including me. There is an outstanding maintenance issue now and they are not even replying to me me (been over a week)

OP posts:
Sunnyshores · 08/04/2018 10:12

Youve been given great advice OP. Heres the rent guide incase you couldnt find it:
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/674299/How_to_Rent_Jan_18.pdf

(can I just say though that it probably isnt the "private landlord taking advantage" hate all the bad press lls get, alot of it isnt deserved)

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