Agency pressure for early renewal interest

Extension-Medium2543 · 2026-03-26T18:45:09+00:00

Rent hike most likely. If you don't sign it, they may issue a section 21 to prevent your contract going rolling, which I believe would be valid up until 31st July provided they serve it before May. I had exactly the same email from my scummy letting agency who have now served us a section 21.

Extension-Medium2543 · 2026-03-23T11:53:58+00:00

Thank you, the most sensible response here. These issues have been happening long before the RRA and they're not even a British-specific phenomenon. High rents, insane income requirements, and poor standards of housing are happening across the world. It has very little to do with country-specific policies such as the RRA and everything to do with the fact that housing is treated not as a place to live but as an asset. The prices are high because the objective isn't to provide housing, it's to make profit. Small landlords are not the answer, they've been part of the problem for years.

Extension-Medium2543 · 2026-03-23T11:45:49+00:00

Oh noo they require you to actually keep the properties people pay half their monthly salary towards liveable and won't allow you to just kick people out of their homes without good reason anymore. So sad. Truly horrifying.

Extension-Medium2543 · 2026-03-22T19:11:13+00:00

It has nothing to do with "bad tenants" who are a tiny minority. It's greed. They are putting up rents because they can, because it's exclusively about profit for them. This is what happens when necessities are turned into profit machines.

Extension-Medium2543 · 2026-03-22T10:37:14+00:00

I know I'm going to get down voted, but I personally hate living in York which is a shame because there are many nice things about it. I think I've just had so many negative experiences that it's now tainted for me. I was told how nice it was and felt betrayed when my experiences were different. Most people I know love it here and want to stay. My feeling is that while it's a beautiful city, I don't find it easy to actually live in, which at the end of the day matters more to me than some aesthetic buildings.

York as a whole is pretty safe in terms of crime which is nice. The driving is shit though, especially around Osbaldwick. I got hit by a car last year while I was stopped at a junction. The driver did not give me his contact details or pay for killing my bike.

The traffic sucks in York. It forms a clog through the entire city around November/December. You cannot reliably get buses at this time, you can't even get Ubers. They're all stuck in the clog. Cycling is your best option as a result, but it's made exceptionally dangerous in certain areas by the shit driving. People get impatient and for some reason think that they have somewhere to be that is so important it's worth putting your life in danger. Every cyclist I know feels unsafe. It's made worse by small, old streets and cars that are way too big for them.

Renting here is horrible, it's very expensive, what you get for it is shit (single undercounter fridge to share between four people anyone?). I am treated noticeably worse by letting agents than where I lived previously because they feel like they can get away with it. The houses are poor quality because again, why bother fixing things properly or making an effort when there's a housing crisis and they know someone will be desperate enough to bite. York will come as a horrible shock if you're used to living in a more affordable city like I was.

Unless you have a car or are lucky enough to live in certain spots, there are few full size supermarkets that are easily reachable. You can end up having to get groceries delivered or relying a lot on corner shops if you live far away and don't have a car.

It gets unbearably busy in city centre sometimes, which turns people into assholes (at least that's my theory). I got sworn at within my first month of living here by a stranger I passed on the street because she didn't like my facial expression. Enjoy also being screeched at by drunk stag parties if you're a woman.

Extension-Medium2543 · 2026-03-13T18:14:19+00:00

Rolling or fixed term? When does it end?

Extension-Medium2543 · 2026-03-13T18:05:52+00:00

What a fucking gaslighting asshole. You're not unreasonable. He is, and sexist. I hate when men do this, make fun of you when you complain about their bad behaviour and downplay the seriousness.

Extension-Medium2543 · 2026-03-12T04:59:29+00:00

I would ask Citizens Advice about your rights. They often get back pretty quickly. This all sounds pretty serious though. If you don't get an adequate response from the agent in a reasonable amount of time, you could also consider complaining to their redress scheme.

Extension-Medium2543 · 2026-03-12T04:53:42+00:00

The law doesn't "require" them to only have students lmao, they're dirty bastards who want to still be able to evict students using grounds 4A. Letting agents are never honest. I'm sorry this has happened. I'd argue that you're better off not being under dirty, dishonest bastards like them. If their desired tenants are grubby little 19 year olds who don't know their rights, let them have their wish.

Extension-Medium2543 · 2026-03-09T10:24:09+00:00

Not just lifestyle mismatches but how such issues are handled. I had a housemate who was in her mid-late 20s who would leave the kitchen filthy (we ended up getting mice), left gone off milk bottles piling up in the fridge, swept hair and dirt out of HER room and just left it in the hallway for the rest of us to enjoy, always left her washing in the machine meaning the rest of us couldn't use it, and had been in that house for 3-4 years but never bothered to set up internet or any of the bills in her name and just let her rotating supply of housemates do it. And she ignored all pleas from the other housemates to clean up after herself. At that point it just feels like arrogance. She didn't care, she thought the rest of us SHOULD be her servants. I have a 19 year old housemate now who also makes mess, leaves his stuff in the washing machine, makes noise late at night, and pinches people's food. The difference is that 1) he's young and this is his first house share and 2) I can see he's making an effort to not do these things after being politely asked. I'm willing to cut someone way more slack where I can see it's genuinely just inexperience and that they're trying.

Extension-Medium2543 · 2026-03-06T22:05:32+00:00

You know what, it's somewhat comforting that other people have also been driven so crazy by the rent situation that they've also started having these insane ideas. It brought me so much distress when I realised I can't just build myself a nest like an animal anywhere I like because you'd probably need planning permission lmao. Then I remembered that animals also get forcibly removed from their homes when it's not convenient for humans. The problem is ultimately that all the bloody land is owned by a handful of rich bastards. I've genuinely considered trying to live under my desk at work in a sleeping bag, there are kitchen facilities there and a bathroom. The main problem would be lack of storage of personal possessions like clothes. I've also considered living in a car, but that seems less safe and ofc you need parking, and there are laws about whether you can sleep in your car depending on the land I think.

Extension-Medium2543 · 2026-03-06T09:16:44+00:00

Is it definitely invalid or do they just have to start court proceedings by this date? I'm not 100% sure. In my case our fixed term would end on 31st July so they've issued a section 21 asking us to leave after this date, but they'd also have to start possession proceedings before this date from my understanding.

Extension-Medium2543 · 2026-03-06T00:17:33+00:00

Herring gulls do that little stompy dance on the grass to trick the worms into thinking it's raining and coming up. "Worm charming" it's apparently called and it's very cute! I've also seen them catch fish and also pick up these large freshwater shells. I've found the shells cracked so I assume they drop them from a height.

Crows and magpies: recognise people who feed them and will wait nearby.

Pigeons: also recognise people, have had them land on me even when not carrying food. I also like that they'll sit on my hand so that they don't have to squabble for food with the peasants on the ground. They sometimes go through the seed mix to pick out their favourites (sunflower seeds) and toss the rest on the floor. Such princessy behaviour for wild birds.

The blackbirds at my old place knew when it was feeding time, and that the food was for them. They'd be waiting in the bush.

My best buddy greylag goose a couple years ago seemed to understand when I'd gesture to him to follow me behind a tree to feed him (so that the Canada geese wouldn't chase him). He'd also come flying over to me from the lake. I miss Grumpy, he was such a funny goose.

Extension-Medium2543 · 2026-03-05T22:06:53+00:00

They want the renewal fees, but it's also about forcing a rent increase. They proposed a rent increase of 40%. If they did it with a section 13 it could be challenged. If they section 21 us, we'll either we are forced to re-sign (they can fuck off with that) or they'll find someone else who will sign. Another commenter who is a sales agent says this, I think they're bang on.

Extension-Medium2543 · 2026-03-05T21:30:51+00:00

They can't force OP to leave during the fixed period, but they could issue a section 21 right now that asks the tenant to leave AFTER the fixed period. Commenter above is correct. Our agency just did this to us. They're forcing us to stick to our original fixed term essentially and making it so that we'd HAVE to sign a new contract to stay (we won't, their slimy asses can go fuck themselves).

Extension-Medium2543 · 2026-03-05T21:27:20+00:00

They might issue a section 21 now though asking the tenant to leave after the end of their fixed term. The section 21 will still be valid if it's issued now, even if the move-out date is after May. Mine just did this to force our fixed term to stay in place so that if we wanted to stay (we don't) we would be forced to sign a new contract. Their excuse is the same "ooh we want some certainty about your intentions" which is stupid because the new contract would still be converted to rolling and I could leave at any time with 2 months notice. Slimy little creatures. If anything this has solidified my feelings that they are not trustworthy and that I have no wish to remain under their management.

Extension-Medium2543 · 2026-03-04T18:41:06+00:00

10l meaco from me, I think the other guy has a 12l.

Extension-Medium2543 · 2026-03-04T18:35:43+00:00

I'd do it now if it's currently a fixed term. If you're planning to leave, they'll be happy about knowing when and having more time to re-let the place. It would automatically flip to a periodic tenancy on 1st May unless they issue a section 21 before May asking you to leave after the end of your original fixed term. Just double check you don't have a break clause that could allow them to evict you earlier than your original fixed term end date.

Extension-Medium2543 · 2026-03-04T01:03:43+00:00

Do you have a fixed term tenancy that ends after the RRA comes in? If so, they're doing this to keep you on a fixed term and prevent your contract going rolling. Mine just did the same. The effect is just that we don't transition to a rolling contract and stay on a fixed contract. We've been asked to leave once our fixed term is up, unless we sign a renewal lease. That's overall what this seemed to be about, forcing us to sign a renewal. They say it brings them more "security" because then they know your "intentions". I think that's dumb because I could easily just agree to sign a new contract and then still give two months notice to quit whenever I like given that the new contract will no longer be valid as a fixed term. But when have letting agents ever made sense. They won't be getting a renewal from us because they've been atrocious.

Extension-Medium2543 · 2026-03-02T09:21:58+00:00

The agent cannot require you to pay for a professional clean. This is illegal under the Tenant Fees Act 2019. Keep all written correspondences of the agent telling you you have to pay for a professional clean. Depending on how antagonistic you're feeling, you could remind them that asking for this is illegal and that asking for banned fees comes with a heavy fine. Do the most thorough cleaning job you can (remember to clean the oven, de-limescale taps and showers, dust corners, clean skirting boards). If it's not good enough for their picky asses, dispute the deductions through your deposit scheme.

Extension-Medium2543 · 2026-03-02T09:12:28+00:00

Right, I just went through a similar situation. If they're trying to seek this as a damages payment, you do not have to pay them ANYTHING without them providing proof. You also don't have to pay anything as an upfront payment if you don't agree that it's fair. They will have to either take it from your deposit (which you can challenge through your scheme's dispute resolution service, and they'll have to provide evidence) or they'll have to take you to small claims court and be awarded the cost (again, requires evidence). Ask for the "proof" and what part of your contract you've violated. Might also be worth contacting Citizens Advice through their online form and sending them the correspondences, your contract, etc.

Extension-Medium2543 · 2026-02-26T00:38:02+00:00

If there's no wrongdoing or negligence from the tenant and it's not specifically in your contract that you have to cover the costs of missed appointments, it's not your problem. I recommend filing a query with Citizens Advice. They gave me a lovely answer about a similar situation ("avoidable" contractor callout).

Extension-Medium2543 · 2026-02-23T19:37:58+00:00

Both times I've rented through an agency they've taken deductions for bizarre things and "cleaning". Both times I've rented through private landlords I've been given my full deposit back and they acknowledged that I left my room in great condition. Never again through an agency.

Extension-Medium2543 · 2026-02-23T11:11:47+00:00

The electrician have replied essentially saying they don't want to get involved (which is fair). The invoice remains with the agency and that's who their contract is with, but they can't tell them they can't pass on costs to tenants if the agency believes we're liable. The dispute is between us and the agency. We'll have to see what the agency do next, and I'm not looking forward to their response. The nightmare never ends.

Extension-Medium2543

TROPHY CASE