Letting Agents are gits (help needed)

[sh#t waffle]

I live with my girlfriend in a one bedroom flat that we've rented for 18 months, in 6 month leases. It's a lovely little flat, and we don't want to move. The problem is, our letting agents are utter, utter arses. We nearly moved out when they tried to put the rent up after 6 months, a period in which we had umpteen problems with the flat. They're now trying to put our rent up again (a rise of 20 quid a week, making a total of 35 quid a week in 18 months).

The thing is, the flat was a bargain (London-wise) when we moved in, so though the first rise angered us, it only really brought it in to line with other properties in the area. This rise, however, is a piss take in my opinion. Does anyone know what constitutes an extortionate and unreasonable rise? Citizens Advice round my way only opens for non-appointments once in a blue moon, and they won't help over the phone. Time is ticking, as our lease runs out on August 5th. Do they still need to give us two months notice even if we are nearing the end of contract?

Also, when we questioned the rise, they said they'd spoken to the landlord who wouldn't budge. Our suspicion is that the landlord IS our letting agent (it's on our lease as a company rather than an individual). I've googled the company name, but what site could I go to to see who the directors of the company are?

Any help would be greatly, greatly appreciated as I am now stressing majorly..

[captainharris]

As far as I was aware they cant put the rent up until the end of the tenancy period anyway. You have both agreed and signed to say it will be £XXX for 6 months.

[Slam Daniels]

Really wish I could help with this one.

 

Only piece of advice I can give is don't forget to utilise your free half-an-hour of legal advice at your local solicitors.

 

Good luck, mate.

[sh#t waffle]

As far as I was aware they cant put the rent up until the end of the tenancy period anyway. You have both agreed and signed to say it will be £XXX for 6 months.

Sorry, I obviously didn't explain myself. It's if we want to sign another contract that it will go up. I know an easy answer is that we don't have to sign anything, we can just move etc. The point is we don't want to move, we want to extend our lease, but this proposed new lease is a piss take. I believe you can challenge a new lease if you feel it's unreasonable (I live in a house split into 4 flats, of which ours is the smallest. A couple moved into one of the other, much bigger flats just 3 months ago and they're paying less than they want us to). I just need to know if anyone knows roughly what constitutes unreasonable..

[Slam Daniels]

Sorry, I obviously didn't explain myself. It's if we want to sign another contract that it will go up. I know an easy answer is that we don't have to sign anything, we can just move etc. The point is we don't want to move, we want to extend our lease, but this proposed new lease is a piss take. I believe you can challenge a new lease if you feel it's unreasonable (I live in a house split into 4 flats, of which ours is the smallest. A couple moved into one of the other, much bigger flats just 3 months ago and they're paying less than they want us to). I just need to know if anyone knows roughly what constitutes unreasonable..

 

Robbed this from a Law dictionary I had left over from Law A-Level:

 

reasonable

Just, rational, appropriate, ordinary or usual in the circumstances. It may refer to care, cause, compensation, doubt (in a criminal trial), and a host of other actions or activities.

 

Don't know whether it's any help, though.

[sh#t waffle]

Really wish I could help with this one.

 

Only piece of advice I can give is don't forget to utilise your free half-an-hour of legal advice at your local solicitors.

 

Good luck, mate.

Damnit! I saw you were viewing the thread, and felt sure you'd know what to do..

The problem is, time is ticking, and they were very clever in sending us the renewal notice with the proposed increase as late as possible. They know what they're doing, they're trying to railroad us into signing..

[sh#t waffle]

Robbed this from a Law dictionary I had left over from Law A-Level:

 

reasonable

Just, rational, appropriate, ordinary or usual in the circumstances. It may refer to care, cause, compensation, doubt (in a criminal trial), and a host of other actions or activities.

 

Don't know whether it's any help, though.

There you go! Cheers mate. I'm damn sure it doesn't adhere to that, I just wonder whether a tribunal or whatever would see it that way. If Citizens Advice were actually on hand to advise citizens a bit more often then everything would be grand.

[Slam Daniels]

There you go! Cheers mate. I'm damn sure it doesn't adhere to that, I just wonder whether a tribunal or whatever would see it that way. If Citizens Advice were actually on hand to advise citizens a bit more often then everything would be grand.

 

Get yourself down to your solicitor for that free half-hour of legal advice. Landlords tend to listen to big words written down on thick, posh paper.

[bri]

Unfortunatley your only dealing with a rental agreement which isnt a lease per say. Your probably on a six month rental agreement. A lease is where you either own part or all of the freehold or leasehold.

 

As it's a private landlord I'm afraid your left down to what he wants to charge. I guess the other people in the house might have a different landlord. Of course you can challenge it but nothing legally (as I'm aware) I'm afraid.

 

Just leave a few fish under the floorboards when you leave. Where you renting I know someone who is looking to rent a flat out in East Dulwich if your interested

[Paul Don]

Don't know where you might find it online but the Govt has a register of all companies and directors so you can check out their legitimacy etc.

 

Don't know how that might work with the Data Protection Act though.

 

If you get really stuck my brother recently moved to London (Brockley), and his landlord is a Red from Bootle so if it comes down to it can put you in touch.

[sh#t waffle]

Unfortunatley your only dealing with a rental agreement which isnt a lease per say. Your probably on a six month rental agreement. A lease is where you either own part or all of the freehold or leasehold.

 

As it's a private landlord I'm afraid your left down to what he wants to charge. I guess the other people in the house might have a different landlord. Of course you can challenge it but nothing legally (as I'm aware) I'm afraid.

 

Just leave a few fish under the floorboards when you leave. Where you renting I know someone who is looking to rent a flat out in East Dulwich if your interested

Nah, it's the same landlord for all the flats, and it just leads me to think we are being punished for having been there longer. i have no doubt if we left they would put it in Loot at less than they are trying to charge us.

And cheers for the offer. We live in Muswell Hill in North London, and if we utterly HAD to move I think we'd stay as near as poss to where we are. And the fish idea is grand. As is mine to fire bomb their office.

[Slam Daniels]

Don't know where you might find it online but the Govt has a register of all companies and directors so you can check out their legitimacy etc.

 

Don't know how that might work with the Data Protection Act though.

 

If you get really stuck my brother recently moved to London (Brockley), and his landlord is a Red from Bootle so if it comes down to it can put you in touch.

 

You can do a search here: Clicky

 

Shows quite a bit of info about the company.

[Slam Daniels]

I live with my girlfriend in a one bedroom flat that we've rented for 18 months, in 6 month leases. It's a lovely little flat, and we don't want to move. The problem is, our letting agents are utter, utter arses. We nearly moved out when they tried to put the rent up after 6 months, a period in which we had umpteen problems with the flat. They're now trying to put our rent up again (a rise of 20 quid a week, making a total of 35 quid a week in 18 months).

The thing is, the flat was a bargain (London-wise) when we moved in, so though the first rise angered us, it only really brought it in to line with other properties in the area. This rise, however, is a piss take in my opinion. Does anyone know what constitutes an extortionate and unreasonable rise? Citizens Advice round my way only opens for non-appointments once in a blue moon, and they won't help over the phone. Time is ticking, as our lease runs out on August 5th. Do they still need to give us two months notice even if we are nearing the end of contract?

Also, when we questioned the rise, they said they'd spoken to the landlord who wouldn't budge. Our suspicion is that the landlord IS our letting agent (it's on our lease as a company rather than an individual). I've googled the company name, but what site could I go to to see who the directors of the company are?

Any help would be greatly, greatly appreciated as I am now stressing majorly..

 

Also, try trawling through this page.

 

----

 

 

Assured tenants

 

As an assured tenant you must pay whatever rent you agreed with your landlord when the tenancy began. Your landlord cannot normally increase the rent unless you agree or the tenancy agreement allows it. If the tenancy agreement allows your landlord to increase the rent, it should contain information about when and how the rent can be increased.

 

If a rent increase has not been agreed with your landlord or if the tenancy agreement does not allow an increase, you may have the right to appeal to a local Rent Assessment Committee if you think the rent increase proposed by your landlord is too high. You can only do so if your tenancy is not fixed term (that is, it does not run for a specific period only, for example, six months or a year) and if your landlord uses a special procedure to increase the rent. If the tenancy agreement allows the rent increases, you cannot apply to a Rent Assessment Committee. Also, a Rent Assessment Committee can set a rent which is higher than that proposed by your landlord.

 

The situation is complicated and if you want to take a proposed increase to a Rent Assessment Committee you should consult an experienced adviser, for example a Citizens Advice Bureau. To search for details of your nearest CAB, including those that can give advice by e-mail, click on nearest CAB.

 

Assured shorthold tenants

 

As an assured shorthold tenant you must pay whatever rent you agreed with your landlord when the tenancy began.

 

Your rent cannot normally be increased unless you agree or the tenancy agreement allows it.

 

In certain cases, your landlord can instead use a special procedure to increase the rent, which involves giving you a formal notice, the details of which are set down by legislation. It is in theory possible for certain types of assured shorthold tenants to appeal to a Rent Assessment Committee like assured tenants can (see above), but assured shorthold tenants have very little protection from eviction, and antagonising your landlord can put you at risk of losing your home.

 

If you wish to challenge a rent increase you must consult an experienced adviser, for example a Citizens Advice Bureau. To search for details of your nearest CAB, including those that can give advice by e-mail, click on nearest CAB.

 

Protected tenants

 

As a protected tenant you must pay the rent which you agreed with your landlord when the tenancy began. However, either you or your landlord can subsequently ask the Rent Officer to fix a ‘fair rent’.

 

If you intend to take action about your rent, you should make sure you are a protected tenant. You should first consult an experienced adviser, for example a Citizens Advice Bureau. To search for details of your nearest CAB, including those that can give advice by e-mail, click on nearest CAB.

 

Your landlord cannot increase your rent if it has been registered as a fair rent by the Rent Officer. If no fair rent has been registered, your landlord cannot increase the rent unless you agree formally in writing, or either you or your landlord apply to the Rent Officer and the Rent Officer fixes a fair rent.

 

Occupiers with basic protection

 

As an occupier with basic protection you must pay the rent which you agreed with your landlord when you moved into the accommodation. You cannot apply to the Rent Officer or to the Rent Assessment Committee to have the rent reduced. If your landlord wants to increase the rent you could try and negotiate. If you refuse to pay the increase this could lead to your landlord evicting you.

[sh#t waffle]

Ta for all your help. Think the only thing to do is see a solicitor. It just really fucks me off how easy it is for landlords to fuck tenants over. If anyone does know of how to find out about companies directors (I agree about the Data Protection Act, I'm not sure where I could legally find out) then please let me know.

[Uncle_Meat]

Sounds like a bit of a tactic, move someone in at a reasonable rent, and then shunt it up knowing that a lot of people will pay the extra rather than have the hassle of moving again. With it being in London where property is at a premium too, they've got you by the bollocks as they'll have no problem finding new tenants to pull that trick on.

 

One trick you can try is if you carry on paying the rent after the (I assume an assured shorthold.) tenancy runs out, acceptance of that rent is seen as acceptance of contract at it's current, or last known current terms. Then, you can give it the "whole 2 months" notice of eviction in writing in order to buy some time.

[bri]

yeah but as it'll be a new agreement you can be charged anything the landlord wants. Your in a position that you know what the other tenants are paying, a newcomer wont be unless they knock and ask.

 

 

muswell hill is v nice, we used to go to that pub in highgate, can't remember the name, old place with garden, sunday food and all that.

 

Yeah the old bomb is a touch heavy. Another one is when you've got yer rental deposit back, get a load of gay porn delivered to his address, or put his number is the any gay classifieds. Or just make a load of non existant viewing appointments. You can have hours of fun fuckin people about

[sh#t waffle]

yeah but as it'll be a new agreement you can be charged anything the landlord wants. Your in a position that you know what the other tenants are paying, a newcomer wont be unless they knock and ask.

 

 

muswell hill is v nice, we used to go to that pub in highgate, can't remember the name, old place with garden, sunday food and all that.

 

Yeah the old bomb is a touch heavy. Another one is when you've got yer rental deposit back, get a load of gay porn delivered to his address, or put his number is the any gay classifieds. Or just make a load of non existant viewing appointments. You can have hours of fun fuckin people about

It is indeed very nice. The pub in Highgate may have been The Flask, though to be honest all the pubs in Highgate are great for a Sunday afternoon session.

[bri]

yep the flask that was it. Anyway good luck with it

[Slam Daniels]

Ta for all your help. Think the only thing to do is see a solicitor. It just really fucks me off how easy it is for landlords to fuck tenants over. If anyone does know of how to find out about companies directors (I agree about the Data Protection Act, I'm not sure where I could legally find out) then please let me know.

 

This came up in a 'Similar Thread'. What happened?

[Guest TK-421]

I would have been able to help at one point. Damn.

[Salou]

i was just about to post some advice to make myself look all helpful, thank god i managed to see the date of the original post in time.

[RedinSweden]

fuck, i thought uncle meat had come back.

[sh#t waffle]

This came up in a 'Similar Thread'. What happened?

 

Weird. We managed to find a much nicer flat, on the same road, for less rent. As a bonus, they didn't turn up to do the inventry when we moved in, and also didn't turn up to check the flat for damage when we moved out, so they gave us our full deposit back. Result.

[sh#t waffle]

I would have been able to help at one point. Damn.

 

I would have loved to have fucked them over. At one point, our boiler was playing up. They sent a plumber round to fix it, but he left early and told me he had done a patch up job to make sure we had water over the weekend, and would come back and fix it properly the following week. That Saturday, I noticed a weird glow around the door that the boiler was in, and when I opened it the boiler was on fire! The letting agents wouldn't accept any responsibility. i tried to make a big deal of it, but getting through to Citizens Advice and Health and Safety was a nightmare, and we eneded up letting them get away with it. One bit of advice to anyone with more inclination than me...I spoke to a solicitor and he told me that any time off that you take from work due to issues with a rented flat should be reimbursed by the letting agents.

[RedinSweden]

Renting property in england is just awful. We did it for a couple of years. Full of crooks and liars. Twats to a man (and woman). Renting over here is far more regulated and you have so much more protection. How anyone with kids can live from 6 month contract to 6 month contract and be vulnerable to the whims of the landlord is beyond me, but unfortunately there are many that have no choice. It sucks. We rented for 5 years here and it was ace.