£455 rent increased to £750 pm. HB only £370 pm.
Notification received end of September, to start 1st November.
73 year old tenant is extremely worried.
Is it actually legal?
It sounds like the T in question has been paying rent much below market value. Hopefully, he’s grateful to the landlord for saving so much of his money.
If not, and the new rent is above market value, he can dispute it with the Tribunal (served rent increase documents will contain all the details).
If he can’t afford a new rent, it’s time to move on and find a cheaper option, possibly outside the area or to downsize. The only alternative is to ask LL to serve them eviction S21, continue paying the rent and expect city council to rehouse them to a council accommodation. But you need to look into this yourself.
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Its legal, but if the increase places it above market rent, it can be challenged through the First Tier Tribunal. I suggest the tenant goes to the Council to ask for help.
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It is legal but there is no requirement that the tenant accepts it. If the tenant refuses, the only option the landlord has is to end the tenancy.
Sounds as if the rent was very cheap before. Might be worth negotiating.
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The tenant cant simply decline a lawfully imposed rent increase. If he doesnt pay it, the arrears just accrue.
As Tim below stated, if T has been getting a great deal for years, it shouldn’t be a surprise… But! There is a big difference between the T being unhappy about the increase “Or” not being able to afford the increase. My Mum recieves houseing benefit, this is paid according to the property band in your county. My Mum for instance has to top up this payment with an addition £80 a month. Its not the end of the world. So the question is, how much housing benefit does the T get and what is the difference between that and the new rent? It’s all relevant right. Hope these comments help you ask the right questions when you speak to the T next.
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This is only true if the landlord did a section 13 notification which is only valid if the tenancy agreement doesn’t have a rent review clause.
If the rent increase is simply suggested, the tenant needs to agree but the tenant is not obliged to accept it. If no agreement can be reached, the option the landlord has is to end the tenancy with two months notice. There are no arrears at all in that case.
Edit: at least that’s the case in England. I don’t know about other places.
Yes, thats why I used the term lawfully imposed.
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