baby on the way , L lord increasing rent by £50 a week.

[rowenj]

I know someone who has just recently been given another years contract at their rented accom'. THey did not sign anything this time though, but the L Lord says he has given them another year.
He also has found out that this couple have another baby on the way meaning they will then have two children. He has decided to increase their rent by £50 a week from when the baby is born.
They will still be in the same two bedroom flat, can he legally do this?

[cassa333]

What sort of tenancy agreement do they have? If they haven't signed a new one they are on a standard rolling agreement (or something like that) but I'm not sure about putting the rent up.

£50 a week seems a bit much to me but I don't know what area you are in.

Anyway If the L is that mean I would save up and move!!!

Has he said why he is putting the rent up? Does he think they will be entitled to extra benefits (if they are on any)

[rowenj]

The reason he stated was the extra child on the way.

[lcg]

absolute balls! while he can charge what he likes....he cannot put the rent up because a child is on the way. if that were me, i'd tell him to sod off and pay him no rent while looking for somewhere else. idiot....tell them to get some cajones and tell him straight - it might just work. i told my landlords when they tried to put the rent up that they got quite enough from me, it was average for the area and the house itself isn't brand new/modern...and that i'd move if they did and they could get another crappy tenant in like before. they thought twice and left the rent alone.

[rowanwitch]

the facilities won't have changed... I suggest you contact the private tenants officer at your local council... they may suggest something of help.

[themas]

You say they've been given another year's tenancy but haven't signed anything. If they are assured shorthold tenants (which they almost certainly are) then the failure to sign anything very likely means they do not have a year's tenancy. The agreement will be a periodic one, running on from the end of the last fixed term tenancy. This means the landlord can get them out at any time by giving 2 months written notice expiring on a rent day.

So they need to be a bit careful if they don't want to have to move. However, the excuse for putting the rent up is pathetic & stupid. I think the situation is that if they are on a periodic tenancy it can be put up, but if they were on a fixed term tenancy it couldn't be put up until the fixed term ended. They should check by calling the Shelter helpline or going to local CAB.

[tonywiltshire]

With two adults a child and a baby the property is probably not statutory overcrowded according to the housing act 1985 with two bedrooms, unless the rooms are tiny, two children of any sex may share a room up to 10 years of age. As themas says it is probably an assured shorthold tenancy (you do not say) which may have started with a minimum period of 6 months and able to be extended month by month unless the tenants give one months notice and the LL two months notice of bringing the tenancy to an end. The LL now seems to be saying he is prepared to extend the tenancy for a further year with an increased rent of £50 per week which the LL can do if accepted by the tenants, if the LL is extending the existing agreement there be no need of their signature but the notice periods remain as one or two months.