Can you be back cha...
 

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[Closed] Can you be back charged for rent?

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So I had a rent review in April and they said it would go up in May. They kept sending unaltered invoices till Sept when they said oops we forgot to put it up. The agent then said oh it will start in sept and gave paperwork to that end for me to sign. Then did a u-turn and said I should have put it up in May you owe us £500. I'm currently refusing to pay it and they're threatening to start proceedings. Can I tell them to do one?


 
Posted : 03/10/2017 5:21 pm
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Did you get paperwork saying the rent was going up to new price in May, or is this all verbal?


 
Posted : 03/10/2017 5:25 pm
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Not sure about the legal side but do one would seem appropriate. How much do you like living there and are you up for a scrap?


 
Posted : 03/10/2017 5:30 pm
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Personally I’d fall back on paperwork and ignore conversions “verbal contracts, not worth the paper they’re printed on”.

If they ‘said’ it would go up in May, but only sent invoices for the higher amount in Sept I’d politely tell them sorry, I can’t help you. If you received a formal notification in May in writing you’ve got less of an argument.


 
Posted : 03/10/2017 5:35 pm
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Just trying to think back. They came round and I agreed to the increase if they did some work that needed doing, to which they agreed. So they sent new paperwork for me to sign which I don't think I did because no work had been done. It still hasn't.


 
Posted : 03/10/2017 5:48 pm
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So you haven't signed to an increase yet? Or you have agreed but in September? What proceedings could they start on that basis, pretty sure they can only hold you to a contract you've signed!

Of course, there is a risk that they'll give notice. But given they've spent 4 months doing **** all about YOUR issues, a jog on response would seem to be in order. How does your rent compare to similar in the area?


 
Posted : 03/10/2017 6:10 pm
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I'd move, your landlord is an asshat.


 
Posted : 03/10/2017 6:20 pm
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I'd move, your landlord is an asshat.


 
Posted : 03/10/2017 6:20 pm
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Twice!


 
Posted : 03/10/2017 6:24 pm
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If you don't have a fixed term agreement

You have a periodic tenancy if you never had a fixed-term tenancy agreement or your tenancy's fixed term has ended and the tenancy hasn't been renewed.

Rent for a periodic tenancy can be increased if you agree to the increase or accept it by paying it.

If you don't agree to the rent rise, your landlord can give you at least one month's written notice of a proposed rent increase using Form 4. The new rent will apply after the notice expires. This will be a minimum of 28 days.

[url= https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/private_renting/rent_increases ]Rent increases[/url]


 
Posted : 03/10/2017 6:27 pm
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I'd move, your landlord is an asshat.

Agent is an asshat. Landlord might be. Landlord may be getting fed a tale by the agent.

Agent probably promised the landlord that the rent went up in spring. It didn't, so the agent is trying to make it your fault and not theirs (when it is quite plainly theirs).

Write to them (I would copy it to the landlord) stating that you only agreed the rent increase in September, evidenced by the written thing you signed. Your offer (for it was an offer, not an agreement) to increase payments earlier in the year was not followed up by the agent.


 
Posted : 03/10/2017 6:38 pm
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I'd move, your landlord is an asshat.

I'm betting its the agent thats screwed up here, promised the landlord an increase, not done the necessary changes, now the landlord is asking his agent why he's not getting the extra rent, agent has paid it to save face and is now trying to cover their loss.

speaking as a landlord with an incompetent agent...

Basically it will come down to what is written in the signed contract

edit, haha, great minds


 
Posted : 03/10/2017 6:41 pm

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