Pensioner, 97, at risk of becoming homeless as she's unable to afford rent
A 97-year-old woman has been left unable to afford her home as a renting crisis unfolds across the country.
Living in Northern Moor, Manchester, the woman, who has not been named, has lived in a two-bedroom flat for 18 years. During that time, her rent was a reasonable £525-a-month. That was until January when the former nurse, who suffered a 'near-fatal' heart attack last year, received a letter from her landlord asking for a £125 increase. Eight months later, after a legal notice was issued, her rent shot up to £875-a-month.
According to the landlord, he had no choice to raise the rent as interest rates increased, leaving him losing £5,000 over the last year. But the woman's daughter and full-time carer Jean Barett, who now lives there too, says the sudden increase is unaffordable. She also claims a number of maintenance issues in the property were not resolved by the landlord. He refutes these claims, saying he addressed the issues that were raised with him and that workers have been denied access to the flat due to fears over Gloria's health.
The Manchester Evening News reported that while her situation is an “extreme example” according to a landlord lobby group, it isn’t “atypical” of the housing crisis Britain is facing. More than four-fifths of landlords in England have four or fewer properties in their portfolio and nearly half rent out just one home.
While some view it as an investment, in the woman's case, her flat was bought by her landlord with his family in mind. He hoped that, one day, it might help one of his four children get on the property ladder. Before 2017, landlords could claim tax relief for all of the interest they paid on their mortgage. But since then, the tax relief that landlords can claim has gradually reduced and, in 2020, the scheme was scrapped altogether and replaced by a less generous regime.
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Meanwhile, Manchester council admits that 'extra costs' faced by landlords are 'among many factors around the cost-of-living crisis which are putting additional pressures on our homelessness services'. Her increase came after the landlord made a 'polite' request to raise the rent by £125 in January - the first increase in 17 years. In a letter seen by the Manchester Evening News, he explains that due to the 'significantly increased costs' of running the apartment, the rent would go up to £650-a-month.
But, eight months later, after the landlord came to the conclusion that the relationship had broken down, he issued a formal notice to increase the rent even further. He says the new rate of £875-a-month means he will just about break even on the costs he has to pay. The landlord, who asked not be named because of the 'overbearing impact' the ordeal has had on his family, says the situation has made him unwell.
He said: "I wasn't sleeping at all when this was really getting to a head. This is everything I think of when I go to bed at night and everything I think of when I get up in the morning." In October, members of community union Acorn went to the offices of a letting agent which had been working with the landlord, demanding that they cut ties with him. Supported by Acorn, Jean is now claiming £25,000 in compensation for the stress caused.
Meeting with the tenant and her daughter in a mediation session, the landlord said that he does not want to evict them from the flat. But if they do not pay the extra rent, he says he will be left with little choice but to sell up - or worse, the flat will be repossessed by the bank.
Responding to claims made by the woman's daughter and community union Acorn, the landlord said: "Mrs Wilson has lived happily for approximately 17 years in the apartment and I am happy for her to continue to do so if she is also. But as costs have risen significantly, I can no longer afford to subsidise Mrs Wilson’s rent to the same extent – an issue I have made clear and politely so.
"I have offered very reasonable justification of this with the submission of costs and all expenditure. I have asked only for a reasonable rent rise for the first time in 17 years, and one which is considerably below the market rate." The landlord said he has done everything he can to resolve the issue and that Manchester council has 'added veracity' to his claims. The council confirmed the landlord has been in contact, but said it does not advise whether a rent increase is reasonable or not.
The landlord also said he would consider a counter-claim against Acorn. He added: "It is absolutely outrageous to insinuate that I am responsible for her ill health." A Manchester council spokesperson said: "Extra costs being experienced by landlords resulting in them hiking up rents, or in some cases selling up, are among many factors around the cost-of-living crisis which are putting additional pressures on our homelessness services. We would encourage anyone who finds themselves struggling with rental payments or facing eviction to seek help and advice as soon as possible. The earlier people seek help, the greater the range of options to prevent them becoming homeless will be available."
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