Stay calm when you get a rent increase
Jens' landlord wanted to raise not only the rent for his flat but also the rent for his carport. His legal expenses insurer pointed him to CONNY and he instructed us. In the end, our partner lawyers fended off both increases.
Jens, what was your problem and how did you hear about us?
My landlord wanted to raise the rent from €5.90 to €6.55, and on top of that the carport from €25.00 to €27.75 a month. It turned out the increase was unlawful. My legal expenses insurer ARAG pointed me to CONNY.
What were your concerns before you instructed us? Were you afraid of confronting your landlord, for example? What got you past those concerns, and what became of your fears?
My worry was that my landlord was within his rights and that I had no choice but to accept the increase. He wrote to me that if I refused to consent to the increase, he would take me to court to enforce it.
Received a rent increase?
How did the process go for you, and how much rent did you save?
After I had emailed all my documents to CONNY, I got a call shortly afterwards telling me that the rent increase was unlawful and that the partner lawyer had therefore rejected it. So my rent payments did not change at all, and for the time being I was relieved.
What do you take away from your experience with us? What would you like to pass on to others in a similar situation?
In the end I am very grateful to CONNY for helping me so quickly with this matter. My advice to every tenant: if a rent increase arrives in the post, stay calm, have experts check it, and do not let your landlord intimidate you.