rent increase

[Thunderchild]

we rent a house out and so far have no contract but now think we should make one. (yea long story so don't bother asking). so in short as we wish after 11 yrs to raise the rent we realise that u cannot reasonably do this without warning so how much warning do u have to give tenants before raising the rent.

[newcliofan]

1 month, but if you like them 3 months would be polite.It dosn't help not having a contract, you may have to serve an eviction notice with the new contract so they will have to sign an agreement if they want to stay, or leave.

You should be able to get the leagle advice for free to make sure you are fully covered.

[Thunderchild]

sorry mesa not that up on legal language please explain this line a bit better: you ma have to serve an eviction notice with the new conract

thanks

[twiglet4frog]

i think what they are saying is that without a contract they are similar to squatters and if u offer them the contract they may have the right to refuse signing it, in which case u may have to go through the same lines as if squatters have moved into your house and have them evicted.

I think they are saying u may need to do this as a matter of precaution than an actual threat to show them that a reasonable contract to make things official is needed but without it then they are by law requested to leave, otherwise u cant turf them out without it if they refuse!

My place is rented through a letting agent on behalf of a private owner and i usually get 3 months notice of any rent rises, and they try to keep it under 5% rent rise per 12 months. for example, when we moved in it was originally �300 a month but after a year they increased it to �310 which is less than 5% added on. does that make sense? i think 3 months notice is more than adequate for people to know what to expect so long as it isnt a huge rent rise, and maybe increase it on the same month each year so they unofficially expect it every year. hope this helps

[Thunderchild]

hm well they have been paying 300 � for over 10 years and the going rates r 450+ so we think that 400 is a fair figure as they should (yes should but don't realy give a s**t) do some maintainece themselves as we live in italy and for us to handle maintainance is a bit complicated

[Thunderchild]

ah yes meant to say squatters rights was the reason we didn't bother with a contract before as we had problems with our mother that having with dad gifted us the house wanted to overturn it and leave all three of us with nothing but now that is safe there is no problem as before if she did get control she could not throw the tenants out and seel up as they could clain on squatters rights

[newcliofan]

Hi again Thunderchild, What I meant was do the same as the council do when they want to increase the rent, they serve an eviction notice  with the new contract for the tenants to sign to accept the new rent, so the tennants can chose to either vacate the premises by a certain date or have the new contract signed and returned accepting the new rent.

[Thunderchild]

well thanks for ur help we have sucsessfuly raised the rent to 400 pounds but they seem reluctant to sign a contract and recon that they were paying 250 in the begining when actually it was 275 paid by the council for them cause they were out of work and that was all the council would pay so we said ok but when he did get a job he started paying the requested 300. anyhow they now tell us that that they have only stayed so long because it was cheap where as they said before they liked it and wanted to stay after their children left as they have four it is a bit of a squeeze and those kids r doing damage so if they leave it does not bother us that much so long as we get decent rent.