A WOMAN is furious after her landlord increased her rent by £200 a month.
Catherine Sheldon, 25, who shares a flat with two pals in Glasgow, said the reasoning behind the hike is selfish and something that wasn’t even up for a discussion.
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The hospitality worker moved into the property back in 2021 and only paid £500 per month.
Her landlord has since decided to up the cost to £520.
But with one of the tenants due to move out soon, he has told Catherine and the other renter that they would have to make up his losses – leaving them with a rent charge of now £700 per month.
Catherine said her landlord argued that that was now the going rate and no further discussions were needed.
She told inews: “He argued that because it’s a difficult market in Glasgow at the moment, he could do this.
“He didn’t say ‘suck it up’ but he was saying he was in a strong position.
“He wasn’t sympathetic even though I’d have to leave if the rent goes up that much.”
The duo left are now stuck at a crossroads and not sure what will happen next as they dispute it with the Scottish tenants’ union Living Rent.
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Richard Donnell, executive director at Zoopla, explained why rent prices are spiralling.
“One factor is whether your landlord has a mortgage,” he said.
“A large proportion don’t, and they may be less likely to need to up costs.
“But at the same time most landlords don’t want to pay out of their own pocket for their mortgage.
“Those who have a high ratio loan to value (LTV) are maybe going to be the ones that put rents up the most.”
Can my landlord increase my rent?
Your landlord can increase your rent – but there are rules they should follow.
Firstly, it’s important to know what type of tenancy you’re in – this determines when your landlord increase up your rent.
Your tenancy agreement should have a section on when the price you’re paying will be reviewed.
For a periodic tenancy, which is a rolling on a week-by-week or month-by-month basis, your landlord cannot normally increase the rent more than once a year without your agreement.
Your landlord must give you a minimum of one month’s notice (if you pay rent weekly or monthly).
If you have a yearly tenancy, they must give you 6 months’ notice.
If a tenancy agreement doesn’t include a rent review clause, or it’s expired and the landlord still wishes to raise the rent, a landlord can use a a section 13 notice.
