Can my landlady put the rent up however much she wants?

Question

my shorthold tenancy ran out on the 22nd oct 06 with the rent at £425pcm. I received a letter from my landlady on 1st Dec 06 saying she was willing to offer me another 6 month tenancy beginning on 22nd Dec 06 but she was raising the rent to £550pcm. I was just wondering if she was allowed to do this. Help much appreciated.

Answer 1

You don't have to sign a new contract, you are currently covered by statute law and your tenancy is continuing on a month by month basis now that the original agreement has expired. All your landlady can then do is to serve notice on you. This may seem very bad, however, think of it from the the Landlady's point of view (hypathetically):

She serves notice on you but doesn't get another tenant in for a month after you leave (because she is asking for too much rent). She has lost £425 in rental income, which she could have had from you. It would have taken her nearly 4 months to lose that much in additional rent if you had stayed in the property and not increased the rent. This is a risky option for the Landlady to take if you are a good tenant.

Just refuse to sign the new contract. And don't forget that if you can get to the 22nd Oct 2007 without the rent increasing and without signing a new contract, your Landlady will never be able to increase the rent by law!!

Incidentally, you can go to your local rent officer and have the property assessed so you know what you should be paying.

Answer 2

Of course she is. But that doesn't mean you have to pay it! If you don't want to pay that much, try countering with an offer somewhere between the two. That's a bit much of a jump, so I'd probaly counter around £450 - £475 at first.

If she balks, remind her of the cost of it standing vacant after you move and before she secures a new tenant. One month's vacancy will take her over 4 months to make up. If you've been a good tenant, remind her of the risk with an unknown quantity in a new tenant. If she gets a bad tenant, it could cost her thousands.

You can always go to the council and request a hearing to fix a fair rent. That could go against you if you are paying a below market rent already, though, so be careful with that. (I paid dearly for that mistake in Cambs a number of years ago. LL was asking for about 20% and the council gave him nearly 100% as it was a "period" property in an historic town.)

If she refuses to negotiate, your options are to either move or pay.

Answer 3

There are limits to how much your rent can be increased but teneants such as you & I are in a difficult position. If you don't pay the increase then they can deny you the right to renew your tenancy. They do need to serve you a notice to quit 2 months before your agreement runs out but it looks like you are now on a month to month basis if your last agreement was only til oct 22nd. Unfortunately this gives you a lot less rights legally. You need to get proper advice from C.A.B or somewhere asap

Answer 4

in case you have been served observe, legally (ie with the main suitable time in contact) in accordance consisting of your written lease, then you certainly even have not 'made yourselves homeless'. So I heavily doubt your community Housing Officer is sweet!! If fact i could advise he's erroneous. if it relatively is the case, and he shows you need to permit it circulate to to a Bailiff/eviction concern, then it relatively is tremendously unhappy. And back, i do no longer think of criminal!!! Your landlady has as lots criminal suitable to serve you notice/evict you, as any court docket has. it particularly is a incontrovertible fact that social housing (Council residences) are as uncommon as hens tooth those days, yet once you have babies, then that would desire to place you added up the lists, than had you no longer. terrific i will advise you is to take this on your community CAB - commonly it relatively is extra useful to have a 0.33 social gathering performing for you.

Answer 5

There is a legal form which the landlady must submit to you 2 months prior to the lease ending to advise you that if you continue your tenancy after your end date l be a rent review. If you visit the government HO webiste you will get this form which she should have submitted. but of course if you refuse to pay the increasted rent she will kick you out - assuming her notice to quit was sent 2 months prior to lease end- if no see citizens advice and sit it out.

Lettings Agent

Answer 6

If you don't have a contract with her that spells out she cannot raise the rent without notice, then yes, she can. It sounds to me like you agreeing to a new set of terms and with new terms can come higher rent. At least, thats how things work in the states. If you are concerned about her doing this again, get something in writing saying she isn't allowed to raise rent without notice.

Answer 7

common sense says yes.
you are looking at a new lease based on market demand . unless you got some socialist rental laws. time to earn more or move on.
suggest you ask for 12mths at 490 a month or get looking for new place.

Answer 8

no she cant love. go to the fair rent tribunal and if need be just squat she cant evict a sitting tenant. Sh*t babe that is a very big rise anyway. Tell her to p**s off she cant do that love. Where do you live? [e-mail] Just mail me and let me know babe.

Answer 9

Yeah, something to do with the 'rent officer' through the Council rings a bell....
http://www.therentservice.gov.uk/
There are regulators/checks in place... They have to deem it 'reasonable'..

Answer 10

No she cant, go to the council and apply for an adjudicator to fix a fair rent.