I'm a tenant and really worried about our rent increasing in August when our fixed term ends.
Our landlord is quite uninvolved (barely anything gets repaired and it is very scruffy) but we do probably pay under market rent so I'm fine with this. I just worry they'll look at what similar places are going for and try to raise the rent. The market round here has gone mental since we moved in just over a year ago and similar places are probably about £200 more, although usually in slightly better condition. I really don't want to move as love the house despite the cold and scruffiness. (Wind actually blows through the windows and they leak, cracked tiles, holes in walls etc). We've made various improvements, patching up holes, done loads of work in what was an overgrown garden, I've made custom thick blinds and want to plant things to improve the garden and maybe do some painting improvements (both allowed). I just want a feeling of permanent home.
I looked up the notice for increasing rent and it said for yearly tenancies it would be six months. Does that mean for a tenancy where someone pays yearly? Or because we are on an annual fixed term contract does that mean any rent increase would need 6 months notice? Although presumably they could still give us notice before the tenancy ends and just fill the house with someone paying more?
We are currently saving a deposit and have attempted to buy a couple of houses but have been hit by crazy market, down-valuations and being outbid. I just really, really want a feeling of stability and being able to forecast (some!) costs right now.