We pay $600 rent a week for a 2 bed + 2 baths + 1 study, a notice has arrived saying the landlord is increasing it by $100 a week. This is just too much increase.
I'm in the NSW and have been given 8 weeks notice. We negotiated the rent with landlord but after 1 week thay have not responded yet.
I am reluctant to move out with Sydney still in lockdown, God knows until when. And hiring removalist, etc.
Definitely doesn't seem reasonable increase but within landlord's rights (unless you have a signed contract already).
Pretty cheap though depending where it is, e.g. if CBD.
Is your contract finished and they want to create a new contract with the rent increase?
Our contract will expire in 2 months and they want to create a new one with a new rate. We are just 10months on the apartment.
find another place and move. Vote with your wallet.
maybe share your postcode? hard to tell based on the given info
Its 2114.
hmm looks like $600 will usually get you a 2 bedder w/o the study. But i think $100 increase is a bit too much
https://www.realestate.com.au/rent/property-unit+apartment-w…
How much are your neighbours paying for an equivalent location and quality?
We found a full 3 bedroom at 650 in the same area. There were a lot of sub 600 per week in the area last year.
Its a good timing to move to cheaper better place.
Everywhere else landlords are reducing, houses empty for months due to no international students.
Gee…. seriously….
Dont be sad. Chin up. You are lucky.
And here I thought I was being a bad landlord by raising mine by $30. $100 is so crazy especially considering you're near the end of the contract. The landlord should hold out for 2 more months and if you decide to leave they can charge $100 more for the next lot.
If you ignore the new contract, can you just move to month by month at the old rate?
Going on the assumption that "if I don't reply, the landlord will forget about the increase" is probably not the best advice.
Landlord only needs to give 30 days notice to end the agreement (at the end of the lease), so gave this rent increase notice with 2 months. So if tenant ignores it for 30 days, they can still give the 30 day end of lease notice. Hence it's likely they won't let it go periodic.
Tenant can negotiate a lower increase (Landlord does not have to agree.
Tenant can apply to the tribunal for excessive increase (and keep paying rent until ruling is made)
Tenant can move out at end of lease.
As per contract, increase will increase after the end of lease.
I think I know the building you're renting in. 700 seems more like pre covid prices.
What floor is it on?
We are in the middle floors. Found cheaper rates on higher floors with similar specs.
Looks like you have solved your problem then
.
"We are in the middle floors. Found cheaper rates on higher floors with similar specs."
Then why the hell are you worried just move there? if it is the same building you wont need removalist just a Moving Dolly take a day and transfer your staff from one to another - just ensure you have a days over lap in renting the new place.
I would tell the agent that you are refusing the 'increase and are happy to move out on the end of your lease' just make sure you can get the other apartments on the higher levels
Tell them they're dreaming in nsw. More international students are leaving in droves due to the lockdown. Time to upgrade to a new better apartment. If its a house, different story.
try nego 50
Thanks. Already did but no response yet
You can get a good deal elsewhere for 600 or less. If you stay for another year it will cost you 5000 extra. How much would a removalist cost? Try calling the tenants union, there may be some rules in place because of covid but ultimately the landlord holds the power. You have to be proactive and ready to move.
Mortgage rates are at record lows, rates, strata etc are tax deductible and unlikely to have increased that much either.
Youve got 30 days to appeal the increase at the tribunal but the onus is on you to demonstrate the increase is excessive. You will need to have evidence that comparable properties are cheaper.
Thinking now of appealing the increase in tribunal since landlord has not responded yet with renegotiation. How do we demonstrate the increase is excessive?
one reason would be the size of the increase, too much in one year, another would be the difficulties of covid of removalists etc, lockdown impact on your income. etc
Be ready to move but don't sign the new lease. String them along if you can. If they want you to leave at the end of your lease they'll have to give you a lot of notice before the end of the lease. Otherwise you'll be in month to month at the old rate and they'll have to give you even more notice. I don't know exactly what the lengths of time are.
Regardless of legality, increasing rent by 100 bucks a week, in the middle of a crippling lockdown is an incredibly dicky move. I'd almost be tempted to name and shame the piece of shit.
We were expecting like a small incremental increase year to year but more than 15% increase on new contract is insane.
Perhaps you weren't a particularly good tenant so they aren't worried if you don't take it. We only have half the story.
Anecdotally, many of my foreign student friends have left Sydney (or are planning to). Reason being Unis have already committed to online learning for the rest of the year, so why would they stay ? Vacancies in apartments are going to get worse, and according to yesterday's national announcements, no chance of that changing this year and start of next year.
Your owner is mad to think they can increase in the middle of a lockdown. I'd be tempted to give them the flick and just move to a newer and nicer place just so they'll have an empty property for months.
Owner might be affected but that's a big bloody increase. I'd be livid. I'd also start looking elsewhere and compare prices.
If you can show similar places are going for less, that would shut 'em up pretty quickly.
If they're adamant about the increase, your only option is to decline and start looking elsewhere.
Any neighbours renting, ask them what they are paying.
You never know the landlord's motivation. They may be struggling financially. Could be they need that amount, or have to sell.
The LL's motivation is completely irrelevant - after all they would not give you a rent reduction if you pleaded poverty. It's business.
Check the local market out thoroughly. If the rent increase pushes your rent above that of good alternatives show LL so and prepare to move if they don't back down. If the going rate for equivalent properties is somewhere near $700 then accept it.
Yes agree completely. Just highlighting that the landlord may have valid justification for their move.
after all they would not give you a rent reduction if you pleaded poverty. It's business.
That's exactly what some did around 18 months ago. With the ban on evictions, some/many tenants pled thier case that they would have to move out if rent wasn't decreased, or even threatened not to pay any rent if there was no reduction.
It's likley this lease was signed while the market was low and it was hard to get new tenants, so the LL accepted/advertised lower rent. Now the market is recovering (demand is up) LL may need to recover some of the costs.
Saying that, I do beleive the increase is too big for the single increase. Rather than fight it, I would probably move elsewhere.
$100 increase in that area, they're dreaming. Find a cheaper place in the same suburb and tell them as such for spite.
Could be a fishing expedition from the LL's part. Could be instigated by the managing agent. Maybe strata fee have gone up shitload so they need to increase the rent to offset it, who knows. From a LL's perspective, a lot of the time the increase is suggested by the agent and not driven by us. Counter them with a $50/week increase and see who flinches first.
Yes we have renegotiated for half of the increase but no response from landlord yet after 1 week.
Call the tenancy union for advice and to discuss your options. https://www.tenants.org.au/taas/WESTS
Thanks for the advice. Will be in contact with them on Monday.
do not pay extra. contact fair trading nsw
Interested in this topic as my LL may do similar dick move in few mths time..
Would it be a good idea to nego lets say 50 per week increase but longer contract eg. 2 years or more instead of 1 year to lock in the higher rate and minimise this dick move n headaches?
Assuming you like the place and want to stay long term..
Depends on your LL's investment horizon. If they're planning to flip the property soon-ish then a longer tenancy could be an issue for them especially if your area is full of first home buyers wanting to move in soon-ish after settlement. On the other hand, if it's just an income stream for them then that could be useful?
I know nothing about the area - so ill say this $100 on a $600 a week is a ~17% increase which i would say is unreasonable - Anything over 5-6% you could argue is unrealistic
HOWEVER it depends on the 'going rate' for the area. ie if all the other properties (similar) are renting at $800 a week then you're Landlord isnt being unreasonable becuz the area is what it is…..
Good luck fighting this i think you got a case. However, imho ask for a better deal or accept you might have to move - it is a harsh world but Sydney is an expensive market from what ive heard
No it is not.
He can ask for whatever he likes, you can take it, negotiate or leave.