27 February 2024 , 14:20
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An 'annoyed' pensioner has launched a petition for an annual private rent increase cap after his rent increased by 146 per cent.
Robert Felstead, 64, has lived in the same house in Nottingham for 14 years. When he first moved into the three-bed terraced house he said his rent was around £300 a month. Robert said his rent has increased every year and he now pays £740 a month - a 146.7 per cent increase on what he was paying 14 years ago.
He said that his £630 a month pension plus his benefits will only just cover his rent and bills and said he will have "no spare cash". In January 2023, Robert launched a petition to implement a cap on annual rent increases by private landlords. Robert, a former train driver, from Nottingham, West Midlands, said: "I know that social housing has a cap of 7.7 per cent if my landlord puts up the rent much more I won't be able to live here."
"I am only on a small pension, I retired three years ago and since then I have not been well. I am on benefits because of my health but my rent increase will eat into that. I won't have any spare cash to put away, it will be pay the bills and live - that'll be it." Robert moved into his three-bedroom terraced house 14 years ago and was paying around £300 a month in rent.
He said he has been left "annoyed" after seeing his rent rise to £740 a month. Robert said: "For the area I live in Nottingham this is pretty pricey, I feel like I am being priced out. I know it is probably below the national average for renting but when there are good people in these houses why are they being priced out. If my rent rises next year I will have to move, then I have the problem of trying to find somewhere to live."
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Robert has launched a change.org petition calling on the UK Government to implement a cap on annual rent increases by private landlords. He said: "They [Landlords] shouldn't be able to put the rent up as they wish. I am a bit annoyed really, you live comfortably for years and years but then the greed of some person puts everything to pot. I know other people are affected far worse than I am but I would love to see the government put a cap on private landlords."
You can find Robert's petition here.