A WOMAN has told how she was made homeless after her landlord increased her rent by £300.
Thai said she “couldn’t sleep, or eat, or function” after she was given the ultimatum, the BBC reported.
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The sales and marketing manager moved into her flat in Bristol in 2018, but four years later Thai was served with a Section 13 notice, which allows her landlord to request a rent rise.
After refusing the increase from £450 to £750, Thai was told she would have to pack her bags.
She said: “The way that the letter was written, I thought that’s it, I’m going to be homeless for Christmas”.
Thai started to spiral and had to be prescribed medication to cope with the stress.
“Once I was served with the eviction, I went back on to antidepressants and I was also prescribed benzodiazepines just to get me over it,” she continued.
She added that the ordeal has had a visible effect on her.
“I was looking at pictures from a year ago – this year has aged me,” she admitted.
“It’s hit me, emotionally and very physically.”
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Soaring monthly rent prices are beginning to look like a major contributing factor to youth homelessness, according to Centrepoint’s director of policy Balbir Kaur Chatrik.
“That’s something we have not seen before,” she warned.
“A stable home is more than just bricks and mortar, it’s a foundation for a healthy and happy life.”
What should I do if I’m worried about high rent costs?
If you want to talk to someone about how to deal with your landlord, you can contact Shelter or Citizens Advice, or Housing Advice NI in Northern Ireland.
These organisations will also be able to talk to you about what entitlements you might be able to claim to help pay your rent if you’re on a low income.
Check if you can get help elsewhere to pay your rent.
If you’re on a low income or get benefits you might be able to get Housing Benefit (or housing costs payments through Universal Credit) for example.
There are also rules a landlord has to follow when they want to increase rent for regulated tenancies – this is called fair rent.
They can only increase the rent up to the maximum set by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA).
A landlord can ask the agency to review rent every two years, but if something has affected the value they can ask earlier.
Tenant’s must be given a notice of increase and a landlord can charge the new rent from the date it’s registered.
Landlords also need to complete a ‘notice of increase’ form and send it to their tenant.
You can backdate your notice of rent increase for up to 4 weeks.
