- This topic has 1 reply, 2 voices, and was last updated 10 years, 7 months ago by .
-
Topic
-
Nobody likes rent increases – no renter, at any rate – but when are increases fair and what can you do if they aren’t?
“I was just notified of another rental increase of $10 to $440 effective in September,” says Nimrod23 HERE in the Forum. “The previous one was in November 2013. Do I have a case for this to be considered excessive. Other rents for similar apartments in my area range from $425 to $500.”
OK, that is a 2.3 % increase, a lot less that the median rent rise for a two bedroom flat in Greater Sydney, where rents went up by $30 (6.4%) in the last year, according to Housing NSW’s latest report.
Also, the Consumer Price Index for the same period is up 3%. And that all adds up to a tough case to argue at Fair Trading especially since your rent is at a low starting point, compared to others in the area.
Fair Trading will step in where the rent rise is clearly excessive and exploitative, based on the CPI and rents for similar properties in that area. I don’t think this qualifies.
You have three choices: sign a new lease to fix the rent, suck up the rises or hit the road.
The opinions offered in these Forum posts and replies are not intended to be taken as legal advice. Readers with serious issues should consult experienced strata lawyers.
-
Replies
-
One of the choices ‘sign a new lease’, what if the tenant asks for a new lease but the agent won’t give it them? I feel the reason for not obliging to the new lease request is so that they can continue with the increases every few months or so…
I have asked for a new lease for the current location and previous. Both times have either avoided the request or flat out said no.
sign a new lease to fix the rent
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.