Rental Increase Outside Agreed Limit

[steve1971]

Hi there

I am coming to the end of my 12 month AST and the contract states that i have the right to renew for a further 12 months. It also state that the increase in rent should be in line with RPI, up to a maximum of 8%.

However, the landlord wants to increase the rent by much more than this, as the local rental market has moved so much in the interim. He says that he will go to arbitraton if I want to renew but don't agree to pay the higher rent.

Is this possible???

Many thanks

[oaktree]

If the contract states you have a right to renew, and the terms of that renewal are also recorded then no, I don't think he can do that unless the contract allows for arbitration.

[steve1971]

Many thanks for this - it's what I assumed but the agent was being very vague.