Rent Increase again

Skyla

I've just received my annual Xmas present from my landlord who never fails to remember me on her Xmas list…the rent increase..it increases by £50 every Xmas! I'm on a periodic tenancy so no need to sign an agreement. It will be going uo from £700 to £750 and will continue to go up. How am I supposed to afford this only on UC and PIP. My PIP is already going in my landlords pocket pretty much instead of on what it's supposed to be used for but the stress and toll this is taking on my mental health..not sleeping, cheat pains etc etc. It's hard enough coping with multiple health conditions but this problem only exasperates things with my pain levels going through the roof. I have chronic widespread pain and ME amongst other complex health issues. The flat is damp and mouldy which ruins all my clothing etc. I spoke to the council about it and they have given some advice, including going on a council list but that could take years given the lack of ground floor properties or any property in general. UC and PIP doesn't stretch very far and I'm paying off debt. I'm worried that this increase will push me into poverty whereby I will simply be unable to afford to live. Landlords are greedy and heartless..ever since the pandemic, things have become out of control and there seems to be no real help. I'll become homeless as a disabled person unable to pay the increase, especially as the years go on. I have terrible anxiety and now depression over this recent letter and my landlord won't budge.

OverlyAnxious

Hi,

Most landlords aren't just greedy. Their costs have also increased massively since the pandemic. Neither side is winning, many landlords are now having to sell up, reducing the availability of rental properties even further.

I assume you are already receiving the maximum LHA allowance for your area and circumstances through the UC Housing Element?

Sadly, if you can't find anywhere cheaper to live, you will have to accept the increase, so it would be better to make sure you're getting all the benefits that you're entitled to instead of trying to fight the increase.

Skyla

SHe has never carried out a single maintenance in the 8 years I've lived in the property. It's a small flat with no mortgage and is an incredibly damp and mouldy flat which she won't fix. Nothing gets fixed. There's no sound proofing, all of my belongings get caked in mould and I had to wait 6 months for the landlord to even fix the front door that wouldn't open due to the faulty door that let's all the rain in. I was told to simply walk through the back yard at night instead of the front door and still to this day, no maintenance issues have been addressed despite inspection reports. I have to breathe in the stench of mould and damp every night but despite increasing the rent continuously, she doesn't carry out her duties as a landlord which is to maintain the property snd make it habitable. Landlords have become incredibly greedy and are not poor. They should look after their properties instead of charging extortionate rents to properties that are damp and mouldy with zero soundproofing.

Skyla

...I am in receipt of all that I'm able to receive but due to the increase in rent ever year, it doesn't cover the increase since rents are capped. My disabilty goes into my landlords pocket instead of what its actually meant for. The mould and the damp as well as no soundproofing affects my health badly. Landlords are not supposed to increase rent in damp and mouldy properties...so it says. They're supposed to make then habitable for tenants or not rent the property at all.

OverlyAnxious

I am sorry to hear to hear about the state of the property. The landlord still has the right to increase the rent every 12 months.

Landlords now have a much greater responsibility to prevent mould in their properties. You should contact the environmental health team at your local council to come and inspect the property. They can force the landlord to make repairs with legal action. Just be aware that she could end up evicting you if you go down that route. It sounds like it would be better to move to another private rental unless yours is very cheap for the area.

durhamjaide2001

https://www.groundwork.org.uk/greendoctor/

these people may help apologise I have lost what I had written.

poppy123456

Have you ever reported her to your Local Authority regarding the damp issues? if not then I'd advise you to do that. Sound proofing? I'm not convinced that your home should be sound proofed nor should that be your LL responsibility.

For the shortfall of rent have you have applied for a Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP) from your local Authority? It's not guaranteed and if awarded it's only paid for a short period of time before you have to reapply. See link.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/claiming-discretionary-housing-payments/claiming-discretionary-housing-payments

Rent for Private rentals has increased drastically across the whole of the country but I'm not sure it's because LL's are greedy.

Have you added your name to the social/council housing list? If not then you really should do that. Yes, waiting times are very long but if you're not on the list, you'll never be offered a property.

You can also refer yourself for a needs assessment, which may also help you get a higher band on that housing list but again, it's not guaranteed.