Landlord coming to discuss rent this evening, any advice?

zl1whqvjs75cdy

Hi guys;

So myself and my gf have been renting a place in the commuter belt for nearly two years now. We have been good tenants, paid the rent on time, fixed the minor issues ourselves and I painted the front room myself (with the landlords permission). We keep the place well and look after it like its our own. When we moved in the rent was set at 950 (two bed apartment). The landlord is now coming for "a chat" about the rent this evening. We all know what that means.

This is the first time I've had to negotiate a bit about rent with a landlord. We know that 950 is on the low side for the area we are in so we don't begrudge him an increase but we really can't afford a massive hike. I think 1100 is our max. That seems to be fair price for around here.

When it comes to the actual negotiation should I let him open with what he thinks and then try get him down? We have a relatively strong position since he knows us and we have been good tenants. I know the group he had before us made bits of the place so he may be wary of taking a chance on new people.

Any tips or advice would be appreciated.

alias no.9

The only time I've had a rent raise conversation was when the house I was living in was sold by the owners, two sisters, to their brother. Initially after the sale we'd continued to pay the rent as before in to the sisters account but the agent came round one evening to let us know the new bank account details and that the rent would be going up by €100 to €1150PCM. We'd been paying that for years anyway, families, eh?

Anyway I'm rambling a little. Wait until he shows his hand, if it's acceptable, well and good but maybe show a little resistance so as not to encourage him next year, but if it's over the odds, explain like you have above how he knows you're good tenants and that you would like to stay but your absolute limit is X.
If he insists on pushing through the increase, tell him that you will start looking for a new place at your own convenience, not his, and that you'll give him the relevant notice when the time comes, then bid him good evening and show him the door.

Mountjoy Mugger

What does the lease say?

zl1whqvjs75cdy

We are unfortunately in a part iv rather than a fixed term so he can issue notice for us to leave as far as I know. (Should have mentioned that in the OP). He will need to give us 42 days notice though.

Diarmuid

Have a quick look at "Getting to Yes" Obviously you can't read the book but have a look at the suggested approaches and see how you can apply each to your position

eg "Focus on interests, not positions" = You want to stay there, the landlord wants a good stable tenant.
"Insist on using objective criteria" = Know the going rate in your area.

Don't get personal, or back the landlord into a corner. I wouldn't bring up the legal position unless as a last resort.

Give the landlord a cuppa + cake before you start, it's been repeatedly shown that the act of giving results in people feeling more like to give something back in return.

It's worth doing your homework well. Even if it saves you €50/month. That's your UPC bill paid for.

alias no.9

donkeyoaty0099 wrote: »

We are unfortunately in a part iv rather than a fixed term so he can issue notice for us to leave as far as I know. (Should have mentioned that in the OP). He will need to give us 42 days notice though.

He's very limited in the reasons he can give you notice

From Here

For a tenancy that has lasted between 6 months and 4 years – known as a Part 4 tenancy – the landlord can end it only in the following circumstances:

If you do not comply with the obligations of the tenancy
If the property is no longer suited to your needs (for example, if it is overcrowded)
If the landlord intends to sell the property within 3 months
or for the following specific purposes:

If the landlord needs the property for him/herself or for an immediate family member
If the landlord intends to refurbish the property substantially
If the landlord plans to change the business use of the property (for example, convert it to office use)

hopgog

alias no.9 wrote: »

He's very limited in the reasons he can give you notice

citizensinformation.ie/en/housing/renting_a_home/if_your_landlord_wants_you_to_leave.html"]From Here

Yes but can be firm on asking for top rent, which will get them gone if he want's the place back

zl1whqvjs75cdy

I presume paying the rent he wants is one of the obligations of our tenancy, so not paying what he wants is grounds to have us out.

alias no.9

hopgog wrote: »

Yes but can be firm on asking for top rent, which will get them gone if he want's the place back

They may pay it short term however and move at their own convenience.

billythefish99

Not sure why you would agree to a face to face negotiation on rent. He should send you notification of the new rent, you can then discuss with your partner, check local market rates against it and check availability of other properties in the market.

At this point I'd let him tell you what the rent is to be, then tell him thanks and you'll be in touch. Unless of course its doesnt go up or is an obviously low rise.

zl1whqvjs75cdy

I've done a bit of poking around and there are places in the next town over (where we would both prefer to live) that are 1200 for a two bed so if he pushes it that far we'll just move there. Hoping for 1050, expecting 1100, dreading 1200. The stress of moving and apartment viewing.

Atlantic Dawn

Don't whatever you do tell him your budget is €1100 or this will be his starting point. You have to assume he could be a month or more finding a tenant who may turn out to be trouble, try to mention that you have always paid on time and consider yourself a good tenant. Unless you get a very favourable rate tonight I would say to him that you will think about his offer and tell him you will get back to him after the weekend, use the weekend to make a decision based on similar properties around you.

zl1whqvjs75cdy

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

Don't whatever you do tell him your budget is €1100 or this will be his starting point. You have to assume he could be a month or more finding a tenant who may turn out to be trouble, try to mention that you have always paid on time and consider yourself a good tenant. Unless you get a very favourable rate tonight I would say to him that you will think about his offer and tell him you will get back to him after the weekend, use the weekend to make a decision based on similar properties around you.

Seems like pretty sound advice. Don't think we will tell him either way tonight anyway, let him hang a bit. I'll aim for 1050 but even if he says that I'll take the weekend to "think" about it.

zl1whqvjs75cdy

Update. Went perfectly. He said 1000 straight off the bat. We can start paying that next month with a new lease or pay the 950 until August and sign the new lease then. Happy days.

Stheno

donkeyoaty0099 wrote: »

Update. Went perfectly. He said 1000 straight off the bat. We can start paying that next month with a new lease or pay the 950 until August and sign the new lease then. Happy days.

Good for you delighted to read that

cocoman

donkeyoaty0099 wrote: »

Update. Went perfectly. He said 1000 straight off the bat. We can start paying that next month with a new lease or pay the 950 until August and sign the new lease then. Happy days.

Good stuff. Nice to see that the LL is completely taking the pi**.

Gileadi

cocoman wrote: »

Good stuff. Nice to see that the LL is completely taking the pi**.

Care to explain that one? OP seems content

alias no.9

Good outcome, personally I'd be loathed to piss off a good tenant. A guaranteed €900 beats a risky €1100 every month.

CIARAN_BOYLE

Gileadi wrote: »

Care to explain that one? OP seems content

Presumably they meant isn't

Glenbhoy

cocoman wrote: »

Good stuff. Nice to see that the LL is completely taking the pi**.

hope he hasn't been monitoring this thread:)

Atlantic Dawn

donkeyoaty0099 wrote: »

Update. Went perfectly. He said 1000 straight off the bat. We can start paying that next month with a new lease or pay the 950 until August and sign the new lease then. Happy days.

That seems very reasonable on yourself and the landlord, rents have gone up and he's not trying to milk it.

hdowney

you have yourself a good landlord there and he seems to have good tenants. keep each other

The_Conductor

Great to see a happy person in these parts- its a rare enough occurrence.
Donkey- closing your thread.