(Potential) Dispute with landlord/estate agency
Discussion
Evening all... After some advice on where I am standing at the moment with this...
My current tenancy agreement ends on the beginning of September. I've been chasing the agency for a few weeks now to sign the renewal of my tenancy before the end, as I am not going to be available to that closer to the end date.
On Saturday the agency got back to me and confirmed that the they were going to draft the renewal agreement and we agreed on the monies that would be owed (renewal plus a shortfall in the damage deposit that was attributed to last year's rent increase). We also confirmed that there would be no increase this year, and arranged for an appointment today to visit their office and sign the contract. This went ahead and today I signed it, confirming that there would be no rent increase this year, and I also paid the amount agreed (card receipt received). At that point, the agent who handled the contract told me that the landlord would then sign the contract and they would forward a copy to me. My partner was a witness to all of this.
After I left the office and around half an hour later, I received a call from the agent who, sheepishly and while apologising profusely, informed me the landlord actually wants to increase the rent by 200 pounds pm. That's around 14.3% of an increase.
Meanwhile, my current tenancy agreement states the following:
If for any reason the Tenant remains in possession of the Property or the lawful tenant of the Property, for more
than 12 months, then the Rent will increase once each year.
-- The first increase will be the first Rent Due Date more than 363 days after the commencement date.
--Subsequent increases will be on the first Rent Due Date more than 363 days since the last rent increase.
-- The Rent will increase by the amount stated for the annual increase in the CPI
(Consumer Prices Index as quoted by the Office of National Statistics) as quoted for the month two months prior
to the month of the increase. Regardless of CPI, the amount of the rent increase will be subject to a minimum of
2% to a maximum of 5%
My two main questions are the following then:
--I suppose the fact that I signed the contract at 1400 gpb but it hasn't been signed by the landlord means that I don't have a leg to stand on?
--Does the clause I included above actually limit the amount rent can be increased by?
Thanks!
(bad luck really as I could do without the hassle, I am getting married in a week!)
My current tenancy agreement ends on the beginning of September. I've been chasing the agency for a few weeks now to sign the renewal of my tenancy before the end, as I am not going to be available to that closer to the end date.
On Saturday the agency got back to me and confirmed that the they were going to draft the renewal agreement and we agreed on the monies that would be owed (renewal plus a shortfall in the damage deposit that was attributed to last year's rent increase). We also confirmed that there would be no increase this year, and arranged for an appointment today to visit their office and sign the contract. This went ahead and today I signed it, confirming that there would be no rent increase this year, and I also paid the amount agreed (card receipt received). At that point, the agent who handled the contract told me that the landlord would then sign the contract and they would forward a copy to me. My partner was a witness to all of this.
After I left the office and around half an hour later, I received a call from the agent who, sheepishly and while apologising profusely, informed me the landlord actually wants to increase the rent by 200 pounds pm. That's around 14.3% of an increase.
Meanwhile, my current tenancy agreement states the following:
If for any reason the Tenant remains in possession of the Property or the lawful tenant of the Property, for more
than 12 months, then the Rent will increase once each year.
-- The first increase will be the first Rent Due Date more than 363 days after the commencement date.
--Subsequent increases will be on the first Rent Due Date more than 363 days since the last rent increase.
-- The Rent will increase by the amount stated for the annual increase in the CPI
(Consumer Prices Index as quoted by the Office of National Statistics) as quoted for the month two months prior
to the month of the increase. Regardless of CPI, the amount of the rent increase will be subject to a minimum of
2% to a maximum of 5%
My two main questions are the following then:
--I suppose the fact that I signed the contract at 1400 gpb but it hasn't been signed by the landlord means that I don't have a leg to stand on?
--Does the clause I included above actually limit the amount rent can be increased by?
Thanks!
(bad luck really as I could do without the hassle, I am getting married in a week!)
Edited by drdino on Thursday 24th August 19:57
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