Rent Increase

[MartinMillar]

Landlord has just stopped me and has mentioned that the rent will be increasing by 23% from next month.
So apart from giving less than a month notice is there limits that they can increase by?
Also she mentioned that there were a few outstanding repairs and to give her a list. The thing is it’s a huge list, can we legally say we will pay the increase once the repairs are completed thieve repairs are everything from happy windows to damp leaking roof to repair from a major flood 7 months ago.
I’m in Northern Ireland.
Thanks for your help

[MartinMillar]

Barmaid can you help?

[Barmaid]

No, I have no idea, sorry.

Some useful info on here though:- https://www.housingadviceni.org/advice-private-tenants/about-rent-increases

[MartinMillar]

Ok thanks BM

[barry1010]

You must get at least 28 days notice of a rent increase and this notice must be in writing.
Unless you have a rent controlled tenancy the landlord is not restricted in the amount of the increase.
https://www.mylawyer.co.uk/rent-reviews-northern-ireland-a-A76061D77774/

Good information here about withholding rent because repairs are needed https://www.housingadviceni.org/advice-private-tenants/witholding-rent-payments

Your landlord has asked for a list of repairs. In my view you should give her the full list and give her reasonable time to get them carried out before thinking about withholding rent.

[ummmm]

That's a bit of a kick in the teeth...

Is there a reason why they haven't done the repair list so far?

[Peter Pedant]

I think you have to decide whether to go or stay
and that is a decision on the maths and sums

is rent + 23% better than you get elsewhere ?

yes - leave
no - pay up
and make the list of repairs ....

withholding rent - 90% tenancies end in eviction
(one tenant wanted to with hold 2 wks rent because she went on holiday - we had a long bloody fight over that - body parts all over the walls - extensive redecoration, recimrination and insults)

[MartinMillar]

I don’t want to withhold the rent I have never said I would.
I wanted to know if it was unreasonable to give verbal short notice to a 23% increase when they haven’t done any repair in 10 years and nothing following a significant flood last year that left us with no heating in the bathroom for 7 months

[bednobs]

The two issues are separate. For the last year thing you should not be thinking of taking action now. What a bummer though. Is it at market rent already?

[MartinMillar]

I have asked for repairs to be carried out several times before but got no response, they were not bothering us so we let it go.
Market value kind off it’s an unusually large property but is very old fashioned in terms of heating etc but that’s the charm that attracted us in the first place.
We are happy to pay an increase but think we should after the repair has started at at 15% not 23% and from perhaps 1st August not July as it’s not in writing or the correct notice period

[bednobs]

Just talk to the landlord. They might accept a lower increase to save them having to find new tenents

[Peter Pedant]

deposit?

if you are going to leave, then give the notice required - and if not defined, then it is the rent period ( month rent - a one months notice) - and in writing if specified

as for - leaking door and wet room - there is no allowance for that in an argument over terminal rent

[MartinMillar]

Peter it wasn’t a leaky door it was a ruddy great downpour of water from a burst radiator that couldn’t be turned of for over 2 hours that caused significant damage that has never been replaced or repaired.