Generation Rent supporter Alex explains what it is like to face the threat of eviction or a sudden rent increase.
My partner and I both have deep roots in the education sector, a field that values structure and responsibility. When it came time to find a place to call home, we settled on a cosy two-bedroom flat with a monthly rent of £1300. The charm of the neighbourhood was irresistible, and the extra room sealed the deal, providing us the perfect home office setup during the lockdown.
Right from the start, our neighbours became more than just familiar faces. We nurtured a true sense of community. This camaraderie proved to be invaluable, particularly during those isolating periods when COVID-19 forced us to stay indoors.
However, beneath the surface of our contentment, the building’s condition began to show cracks. We faced a litany of challenges—flooding, extended power outages, a scarcity of hot water, and a laundry list of other issues. The building comprises four flats: a tiny 1-bedroom flat, a “two” double bedroom flat (that in reality is just 1 double bedroom, because the second one was too small to be considered a bedroom at all), and 2 two double bedrooms flats.
Our frustration grew as it became evident that the letting agency, acting as an intermediary between us and the landlords, was unresponsive to our pleas for assistance. Despite reaching out via email and their fault-reporting app, our appeals were met with silence. The breaking point arrived with a detached washing machine drum. A call to the agency led us to report the problem through their app, but weeks passed without a response. It was only after three weeks that our property manager suggested the issue might be due to a neglected filter. In the end, we managed to get the landlords contacts and make our complaint.
The landlords own a company dedicated to buying office buildings across London and converting them into flats, something they told us themselves. The building where we lived was converted in 2015 and the new flats were fitted with the cheapest, lowest quality materials and devices they could find. The flats didn’t even have double glazed windows at the beginning.
At the end of the first year, because we loved the local area we decided to renew our tenancy agreement with the landlords. They wanted to charge us £100 more per month, but we managed to negotiate with them, because the building wasn’t great and was causing us many problems. Ultimately, we agreed to a £25 increase for a two-year extension.
The second year brought even more problems—persistent faults that neither the agency nor the landlords deemed worthy of addressing. Leaks from above, sewage-related floods, and faulty boilers became part of our daily routine.
The situation reached its nadir in September last year when the building’s smoke alarms went haywire one night. Emergency services confirmed there was no actual threat and that it just needed to be serviced by an engineer. When our pleas for resolution fell on deaf ears, it became clear that the agency and landlords were uninterested in our concerns.
Two months after, in November, our collective complaint about the fire system’s dysfunction yielded an unexpected outcome: a Section 21 eviction notice, invoking no specific fault or reason. After the notice, we were given an ultimatum—pay an extra £475 per month or leave. They asked us to pay an astounding £1800 pcm, almost a 40% increase from £1325.
We managed to secure a new tenancy agreement in a different property nearby. Despite providing a month’s notice to our property manager, our departure message was misplaced. This oversight resulted in an additional month’s rent for our previous flat, on top of the expenses for our new home. The financial strain exceeded £4000, hitting us hard during the Christmas holiday season.
Adding to our frustrations, the fire alarm system remained faulty as we left. An engineer’s visit did little to fix the issue, leaving the building at risk in the event of a genuine emergency. This could cause serious problems for any potential future tenants.
The aftermath of these events continues to affect us, even after seven months. Our emotional well-being suffered a significant blow, and healing will still take time.
