Need advice about rental increase.... (apartments, month to, new home)

[bey_r]

Hi everyone. My landlord now has a property manager to run things for him because he's incompetent. I received a letter from him on Oct 17, 2009 saying that my rent would increase (by a lot) on December 1st. Now I haven't signed another lease since 1999 and I'm wondering if that's legal. I thought a landlord had to wait alteast 60 days to increase rent. I plan on moving anyway but I have to wait at least 30 days to do it, I think? Plus to make matters worse, the ceiling in my back room fell all on my stuff. Do I have all of the info right or am I missing something. I mean, the amount they're increasing to is just crazy for where I live and I've been complaining about repairs for over a year.

[ReefAreCoolToo]

Originally Posted by bey_r

Hi everyone. My landlord now has a property manager to run things for him because he's incompetent. I received a letter from him on Oct 17, 2009 saying that my rent would increase (by a lot) on December 1st. Now I haven't signed another lease since 1999 and I'm wondering if that's legal. I thought a landlord had to wait alteast 60 days to increase rent. I plan on moving anyway but I have to wait at least 30 days to do it, I think? Plus to make matters worse, the ceiling in my back room fell all on my stuff. Do I have all of the info right or am I missing something. I mean, the amount they're increasing to is just crazy for where I live and I've been complaining about repairs for over a year.

I think if you read your old contract, there should be a clause in there he needs to give you 30 days advance if he going to raise the rent. He can charge whatever the heck he wants really unless he is in the rental control area, other than that, you are SOL.

You can however have him reported about the falling ceiling as it considered unsafe. Did you document those? and did you send letter request to fix and pay damages? Make sure everything in writing

good luck

[upinflamezzz]

As an owner of many properties before I would say he's doing the right thing. If you're someone who is late with the rent all the time then you need to go. Cut & Dry. He is using a property manager not because he is incompetent. He just doesn't want the fuss in his life any longer. I hate it when people think that because you have money you owe them something.

[bey_r]

I think if you read your old contract, there should be a clause in there he needs to give you 30 days advance if he going to raise the rent. He can charge whatever the heck he wants really unless he is in the rental control area, other than that, you are SOL.

You can however have him reported about the falling ceiling as it considered unsafe. Did you document those? and did you send letter request to fix and pay damages? Make sure everything in writing

good luck

Thank you for the reply.

As an owner of many properties before I would say he's doing the right thing. If you're someone who is late with the rent all the time then you need to go. Cut & Dry. He is using a property manager not because he is incompetent. He just doesn't want the fuss in his life any longer. I hate it when people think that because you have money you owe them something.

Well I'm never late with my rent and I don't know where you got that from. And he is incompetent because he doesn't know what he's doing as far as running a business. Many things could have been easily solved if he learned how to communicate.

[davecj]

I'm confused, you say you haven't signed a lease since 1999- meaning you signed a 10 year lease or you have been living month to month as a tenant?

If you don't have a signed lease, you are SOL and quite frankly incompetent yourself for not having a lease in the first place. Without a lease you have the right to walk away at anytime.

If you're moving anyway, give him notice of such so you protect yourself.

[dfredward]

bey_r, i get the impression that the owner/property mgr is raising your rent dramatically because it is well under priced when compared with similar apartments in the area. or, they may want to renovate and justify charging more. or, they just want you out. or, they are both incompetent. in any case, best wishes in your new home in 2010!

[Bong477]

Do you have a copy of your lease? It will have all the information you need to answer your questions. Most leases either renew themselves (typically annually) or establish a month to month rental after the initial terms expire.

Barring a violation of your lease, you are SOL and need to start looking for somewhere else to live.

[davecj]

Actually FWIW, it's illegal for your landlord to have a self renewing lease.