Private landlord taking advantage

[Monkee4]

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?

Thanks sunnyshores I appreciate you sending that and yes I am sorry for the heading - I think it is the management company who are probably at the cause of most of this.
(If utilities have increased by 5% then I pay those separately anyway)

Whenever I've had to use agents they always suggest a higher rent at renewal - it increases their profits and makes them seem useful to LL.

If you don't think it's reasonable or can't afford it, then say so. As a LL I would much rather keep you than get another £45pcm.

Thanks monkee4 I have emailed the agent and suggested that I can't afford that but maybe a smaller increase. As yet they haven't come back to me.

(its been a week)

Thanks Sunnyshores ! Just had a very depressing talk with Bovis homes re their shared ownership scheme. They inflate a 2 bedroomed house price to £300,000 (round here they are more like 220-240,000) then you pay rent plus mortgage and service charge so your earnings need to be £40,000 pa to afford it. Am I missing the point about shared ownership - just who is that helping exactly?!

Have you been looking at the rent of other places in the areas. Also is it a popular location with more tenants than houses. Those things may help knowing how much room you have to negotiate (as well as what you might face if you need to find another place yourself).

I don't know anything about shared ownership, but new build houses seem overpriced to me, plus they tend to be smaller, less garden, crammed in etc.

How about a second hand shared ownership where a more realistic market price is asked. I'd go directly to your areas social housing company (not correct term) and speak to them about resales. A friend has 50% of £250k and I'd be surprised if she earns more than £20k.

Thanks sunnyshores I agree re new builds I am really not a fan either. I am going to do some hunting around like you say in the area after the school holidays. I am on a low income with a dependent so will see how I get on

Im no expert, but speak to your bank about Help to Buy ISAs. Its a way of increasing your deposit by getting govt to pay an extra 25% into it.
www.helptobuy.gov.uk/help-to-buy-isa/how-does-it-work/

Also see the shared ownership tab for the Help to Buy agent in your area. They will have useful info.