NewsPronto

 
The Property Pack
.

Post News

How to Handle Rent Increases As a Tenant

  • Written by News Pronto


Rent is easily the highest monthly expense, and the thought of it increasing is rightfully stressful for a tenant. 

In this article, we will look at when a landlord can raise your rent and what you can do to reduce the new rent or get something else out of it.

When and can landlords increase the rent?

While your landlord can increase your rent, they cannot exactly do it on a whim. There are some details to take into consideration. The devil is in the tenancy agreement, so you should always pay close attention when signing one. 

Your landlord can raise the rent in the following situations: 

  • They have discussed the increase with you, and you have agreed to it in written form.
  • You have signed a tenancy agreement with a rent review clause. It also outlines how this increase will be calculated.
  • If you have a fixed-term lease, once the period runs out and you decide to opt in for renewal, the new lease can come with an increased rent.
  • Your tenancy is periodic. In such a case, your landlord can raise the rent only once a year without your agreement, serving a Section 13 notice. 

In any case, the landlord is obligated to give you notice whenever they are about to raise the rent. The notice must come no less than 30 days in advance for periodic tenancies or half a year for yearly fixed-term ones. 

If you live with your landlord, they can raise your rent at any time while you have a periodic tenancy agreement.

How much can landlords increase rent?

Your landlord can only increase your rent with as much as you agreed upon initially. If there are any increases in that sum, the landlord must discuss them with you before applying them. 

When deciding on the new rent, the landlord should reference the local rental market and base the increase on the same rental standards in the area. 

This means that your rent cannot significantly exceed the average rent for properties of the same size and similar purpose located in the same area. Also, if you are paying a rent of £500, it is unreasonable for it to increase to £600-£700. 

Make sure to double-check other properties around and how much renting them would cost. You do not have to agree to the rent increase if you believe it's unfair!

Review your lease agreement

Worried your landlord might increase your rent down the line, or is it already happening? Make sure to double-check your lease agreement. How an increase to your rent can be done is usually outlined there. Is there a rent review clause in your fixed-term agreement? 

Check any numbers that have been stated there, including those for the notice periods. The amount and when the increase can occur should also be written in there. 

If your landlord has not given you a written notice, you don't have to start paying the new rent until at least 30 days from the day they serve it to you. The notice period depends on your type of tenancy agreement too. 

Always make sure that you have a contract with the landlord. 

Leases protect a tenant far more than they do the landlord, so ensure you have read yours thoroughly and even with the help of a close person or a lawyer. This will significantly reduce the chance of unpleasant surprises, like increased rent out of the blue.

Negotiate with your landlord

If your landlord has done everything following the tenancy agreement, but you think that the rent increase is too high, it doesn't mean you have to take the increase instantly or move out because of it. 

If you like the rental property, you might want to try and talk to your landlord before taking other steps. Searching for new tenants can be as challenging and exhausting as looking for a new rental is. It is a pain for both parties, and your landlord certainly will know that.

How good of a tenant you have been thus far could play a big role in the success of your negotiations. 

Have you been a long-term tenant? Do you pay your rent on time? Do you take care regularly of some property maintenance, like cleaning and tidying up? Do you keep noise and problem causing to a minimum? 

Use those and other facts to try and persuade your landlord that keeping the same rent, or slightly lower than predicted, would benefit not just you but them as well and that you deserve it. 

Go into the conversation prepared. Do your research. Point out any disparities between your rent and the average rent in the neighbourhood. Let your landlord know you like your current place and that you have no intention of moving out of it anytime soon - commit to it. 

Offer some sweeteners, like doing a paint job if they provide the materials or other home improvements. 

Alternatively, you could use the chance to ask for new appliances or property repairs and maintenance by professional cleaning services to the place if the rent increase is imminent. 

It is always better to try and talk it out with your landlord. Coming in the middle and cutting out a deal that satisfies both of you is always better than going to a tribunal instantly, accepting an increase you disagree with or looking into your end of tenancy responsibilities.

Can you refuse a rent increase?

You can contest any rent increases unless you live with your landlord and have a periodic tenancy agreement. If you believe that the rent increase is not justified, you can take the issue with a rent tribunal that can reevaluate the rent amount and adjust it accordingly. 

It is important to remember that even if you strongly disagree with your rent increase, you should not stop paying rent. Keep paying until the tribunal decision is out. 

Otherwise, stopping to do so could serve as the basis for an eviction process by your landlord or damage your rental history. 

You could also ask for payment assistance from your local council if you are low-income.

Move out if you can’t afford to pay

Plenty of amazing rental options exist, and you should not compromise by taking a deal you hate or fighting a lost battle. You could easily take the time until a tribunal decision is out to look around for something new, just to research options. 

As your end of tenancy approaches, you might want to consider end of tenancy cleaning. 

Property maintenance services can be a fantastic help to save yourself some time and give a rental proper property maintenance come the end of your tenancy, especially if you don't know how to do end of tenancy cleaning. 

Move-out cleaning is a major tenant responsibility at the end of the day.

Conclusion

Rent increases are a boogeyman that could easily draw your end of tenancy closer and faster if your landlord is unwilling to negotiate. It is important to evaluate how important your rental is to you and if there truly are good alternatives. 

If you decide to move, consider booking expert end of tenancy cleaners to save yourself time and stress if you don’t know how to do property cleaning before moving out.

More Articles ...

  1. How To Find Right Naturally Curly Hair Products
  2. What all beginners must know about options trading in Dubai
  3. 4 Tips for Maintaining a Sense of Order and Normalcy When Moving Homes
  4. 5 Steps to Heal from Loss and Grief
  5. Simple Ways To Stop Wasting Time
  6. Top 2 Components Buyers Tend to Overlook When Purchasing A New Mattress
  7. BDS Movement hijacked by Liberal Zionists?
  8. What Happens When Progressives Tax (and Spend)
  9. Charlie Hebdo offends – and we must defend its right to do so
  10. Sabotaging U.S.-Cuba Détente in the Kennedy Era
  11. OPINION: JFK's Secret Negotiations with Fidel
  12. The 'Espionage Den': American ghosts in Tehran
  13. The larrikin lives on at the expense of Australian female leadership
  14. Ministry of Defence Enhances Energy Efficiency with Ark Data Centres
  15. Michelle Dumas Wins Three Toast of the Resume Awards, Including First Place for Best IT Resume
  16. United Way Launches Holiday Gift Drive to Support Bay Area Families and Seniors in Need
  17. Kaplan University and Leading Global HR Organization Assess What is Needed To Narrow the Skills Gap Between Job Seekers and Open Positions
  18. 4th Annual Seasons Online Art Competition Announced
  19. LinkOptimizer for Adobe InDesign Now Supports Mac OS X 10.10 Yosemite
  20. Zevrix Graphic Inspector Now Supports Mac OS X 10.10 Yosemite
  21. Fives main principles about how to design the most suitable custom printed flags
  22. Service Robotics Market Will Hit $15.69 Billion by 2020 New Research Report Says
  23. Do you know other functions of your smart phone protective cases?
  24. Actually assessment for the high cost-effective Hot MIUI REDMI octa-core phone from LYFMALL
  25. Importing from China 7 Tips on Improving Procurement
  26. The wireless paging system is widely applied into the construction areas
  27. Signal radiation of wireless restaurant pager has no harm to people\'s health
  28. Barcelona team change their jersey style to the color of red and yellow
  29. Global Syn-Turf Artificial Grass at Levi’s Stadium
  30. Global Cardiac POC Market to see 14.40% CAGR Globally by 2018, says a Research Report available at Reports and Intelligence
  31. Unique Alternatives to Traditional Gift Cards - TFE e-Gift Cards
  32. Actionable Insights into the Global and China Electron Microprobe Industry
  33. Tips to Avoid Colds and Flu: Stay Hydrated with Adya Clarity
  34. TrueCore Supplements Introduces Horny Goat Weed
  35. Forecast Report - Global and China Mens Sweaters Industry 2014: Radiant Insights, Inc.
  36. Courtenay’s Companies Nominated for 2015 Small Business BC Awards
  37. Booking.com best in the UK travel sector for mobile experience
  38. Zero Energy Introduces Solar Panel Options
  39. Top Boston chauffeur limousine service Company joins hands with prestigious club
  40. One third of senior level business experts feel migrations have negative impact on \'business as usual\'
  41. ActiveNet Introduces Next Generation Data Integration Engine
  42. Suralink Releases New Document Solution for Accounting and Legal Services
  43. Michael B. launched a new video how to make over $120.000
  44. Bitcoin Gaming Cryptocurrency HYPER Announces $100 Steam Competition Launches 10 Game Servers
  45. Internet Satellites: Elon Musk’s Next Mission by Brady Bunte
  46. A-Maze-ing Results for Method Studios
  47. CODE_n15 CONTEST: the countdown has begun
  48. Movingcompanya.com provides comprehensive choices in moving requirements throughout 51 states
  49. Garage Doors Staten Island provides same day service for its Staten Island customers
  50. The Spaulding Group Wins Industry Awards