A local Isle of Wight charity got in touch with News OnTheWight today with a warning to anyone renting privately to be careful if they receive a rent increase from their landlord.
Elin Williams from the charity Frontline Advice Centre explained how she has recently helped an Island man who had received a rent increase of almost £100 per month.
Increase more than double what it should have been
Mr C approached the charity for assistance, and it was only when Elin looked at his contract in detail, did she discover that according to the Tenancy Agreement the rent should not have been increased by anymore than £45.
Elin told News OnTheWight,
“I was shocked that a local letting agency should ignore the contract.
“I have no idea whether they are doing it to lots of other people.”
Contract limits the increase
Mr C has been in the same property for around 20 years. The rent has remained the same for the last six years, but the contract clearly limits the amount the rent can increase by.
Elin explained that after she got involved, the letting agency backed down and increased the rent from £555 to £590, rather than the £650 they were initially attempting to increase it by.
Read your Tenancy Agreement
Elin’s advice for other private tenants on the Isle of Wight is,
“If your rent is going up, please read your Tenancy Agreement to check the increase is in line with that.”
Article edit
8.50pm 16th May 2022 – Ellen corrected to Elin
Image: maria ziegler under CC BY 2.0
