increase in rent

[vinrex7]

My landlord has recently passed control of the building i live in over to a letting agency, and without warning i have received a letter telling me that my next payment has gone up by £25 per week. What i wish to know is can they legally do this? (the letting agency i mean). cheers in advance

[Buenchico]

Your landlord (either directly or via the letting agency) can put up the rent as much as he likes. If the new rental doesn't exceed the 'open market rent' for the property there's nothing you can do about it. However, if you believe that the new rental exceeds the open market rent (for similar properties in the same area) you can apply (at any time within 6 months from notice of the increase) to your local Rent Assessment Committee for a determination of the Maximum Fair Rent for the property, which will be binding upon the landlord:
http://www.rpts.gov.uk/our_services/rd.htm

Chris

[ChuckFickens]

Can they put it up mid term on the contract then Chris?

I was always under the impression it could only be increased at contract renewal.

[Buenchico]

That seems to assume a fixed-term contract, Chuck. (In which case, I believe that you're probably correct).

Many rental agreements (such as those with local councils and housing associations, as well as with private landlords) are 'ongoing'. It would be ridiculous to expect that a rental would remain unchanged, simply because there was no end to the contract period, if a tenant was to live in a property for 50 years!

[jb190281]

the landlord or agent would need to issue a section 13 notice (notice of rent increase). Shelter is a good website for housing issues.