Rent Raises (Boston, Northborough: wood floors, apartment, rental)

[5pyg1a55]

What is the typical % of a rent raise in Mass? And what is the typical frequency LL's raise rent?

[mdovell]

They're no real average rent increase. It can depend on the owner, improvements, amenities and of course location etc

[masssachoicetts]

My rent share in Boston went from 905 in 2018 (I wasnt there) to 950 in 2019 to 1,025 if I stayed.

Then COVID hit. If I stayed or renewed my lease it would be 990 for my share.

[5pyg1a55]

Originally Posted by masssachoicetts

My rent share in Boston went from 905 in 2018 (I wasnt there) to 950 in 2019 to 1,025 if I stayed.

Then COVID hit. If I stayed or renewed my lease it would be 990 for my share.

The folks who own the place I'm staying asked for a $50 rent raise after two weeks, citing I used 'too much electricity'.
For a window AC unit in August. (its a small non-'legal' apartment attached to a huge old victorian place, there were 6 people living in the house?!). It's been a ****show. It's half finished, like no steps outside just a two foot drop, there was no railing on the steep staircase inside, no way to open the kitchen cabinets, holes in the walls with wires hanging out, raw drywall, no electricity downstairs, no screens in the windows, etc)

I couldn't actually move in till 11 days after I'd paid. I spent 3 days cleaning/sanitizing the place (last tenant left a huge, disgusting mess), and was waiting for promises of crap that either didn't happen or took weeks, like paint.

**at first it was $800. After *2 weeks* they asked for $50 more for 'electricity' without finishing anything. Dude said I was "doing extreme things with the air conditioner".

A month goes by, I'm still waiting for paint and cabinet knobs and a railing, and I complained, so they took my laundry privileges away wtf? Same night I gave 30 days notice. They reneged on the laundry and renegotiated for $25 extra dollars. And also gave me paint and a railing. Still waiting on everything else. This is an in-law tiny apartment in Northborough. It's weird, like a studio (tiny kitchenette strip, bed area, 3/4 bathroom), but with a staircase to a downstairs 'sitting room', which might fit a loveseat. All my stuff is still in storage since March and I still have to get mail at the UPS store, together an extra over $100 a month.

[sawyer2]

Originally Posted by 5pyg1a55

What is the typical % of a rent raise in Mass? And what is the typical frequency LL's raise rent?

What does it say in your lease? - typically not more than once per year/lease period unless there are very specific provisions included

[sawyer2]

Originally Posted by 5pyg1a55

The folks who own the place I'm staying asked for a $50 rent raise after two weeks, citing I used 'too much electricity'.
For a window AC unit in August. (its a small non-'legal' apartment attached to a huge old victorian place, there were 6 people living in the house?!). It's been a ****show. It's half finished, like no steps outside just a two foot drop, there was no railing on the steep staircase inside, no way to open the kitchen cabinets, holes in the walls with wires hanging out, raw drywall, no electricity downstairs, no screens in the windows, etc)

I couldn't actually move in till 11 days after I'd paid. I spent 3 days cleaning/sanitizing the place (last tenant left a huge, disgusting mess), and was waiting for promises of crap that either didn't happen or took weeks, like paint.

**at first it was $800. After *2 weeks* they asked for $50 more for 'electricity' without finishing anything. Dude said I was "doing extreme things with the air conditioner".

A month goes by, I'm still waiting for paint and cabinet knobs and a railing, and I complained, so they took my laundry privileges away wtf? Same night I gave 30 days notice. They reneged on the laundry and renegotiated for $25 extra dollars. And also gave me paint and a railing. Still waiting on everything else. This is an in-law tiny apartment in Northborough. It's weird, like a studio (tiny kitchenette strip, bed area, 3/4 bathroom), but with a staircase to a downstairs 'sitting room', which might fit a loveseat. All my stuff is still in storage since March and I still have to get mail at the UPS store, together an extra over $100 a month.

Not excusing the landlord, but why did you rent the place if it had all these obvious issues?

Call your town housing department and they will come and inspect for legal residence, violations etc. MA is very pro tenant.

[BosYuppie]

Originally Posted by 5pyg1a55

The folks who own the place I'm staying asked for a $50 rent raise after two weeks, citing I used 'too much electricity'.

If you signed a lease - tell them that you are honoring it and you expect them to honor it as well

[BostonMike7]

Given that it's an illegal rental, I doubt there is a least in place. However if there is one, I would consult the lease for some direction.


To answer the question, my typical rent raises are $50-100/year depending on several factors. However I won't really go into detail since it's an apples and orange situation here.

[5pyg1a55]

Originally Posted by sawyer2

Not excusing the landlord, but why did you rent the place if it had all these obvious issues?

Call your town housing department and they will come and inspect for legal residence, violations etc. MA is very pro tenant.

I paid for it before seeing it, based on oral description. I really needed a place & am unfamiliar with this area. And I didn't know (and still don't know) how long/if I will stay in MA.

It's my friend's parent's place, they live in the main house. I'm not going to screw w/ them legally. They're a older, 70's-90's, and one is very ill w/ cancer. They're ok people most of the time, but crappy landlords
(They had one other tenant, otherwise haven't Landlorded before). The family is slightly dysfunctional. The place is tiny but aesthetically OK: marble bathroom, quarts counters, wood floors, etc, all new) it's like 3/4 done being renovated.

I have really tried to be slow and patient, I'm getting frustrated and cranky, and I feel unstable and miserable and have no clue how to continue navigating this reasonably.

[BostonBornMassMade]

Originally Posted by 5pyg1a55

The folks who own the place I'm staying asked for a $50 rent raise after two weeks, citing I used 'too much electricity'.
For a window AC unit in August. (its a small non-'legal' apartment attached to a huge old victorian place, there were 6 people living in the house?!). It's been a ****show. It's half finished, like no steps outside just a two foot drop, there was no railing on the steep staircase inside, no way to open the kitchen cabinets, holes in the walls with wires hanging out, raw drywall, no electricity downstairs, no screens in the windows, etc)

I couldn't actually move in till 11 days after I'd paid. I spent 3 days cleaning/sanitizing the place (last tenant left a huge, disgusting mess), and was waiting for promises of crap that either didn't happen or took weeks, like paint.

**at first it was $800. After *2 weeks* they asked for $50 more for 'electricity' without finishing anything. Dude said I was "doing extreme things with the air conditioner".

A month goes by, I'm still waiting for paint and cabinet knobs and a railing, and I complained, so they took my laundry privileges away wtf? Same night I gave 30 days notice. They reneged on the laundry and renegotiated for $25 extra dollars. And also gave me paint and a railing. Still waiting on everything else. This is an in-law tiny apartment in Northborough. It's weird, like a studio (tiny kitchenette strip, bed area, 3/4 bathroom), but with a staircase to a downstairs 'sitting room', which might fit a loveseat. All my stuff is still in storage since March and I still have to get mail at the UPS store, together an extra over $100 a month.

Lol Boston rental life. The ghetto.

When I lived in Dorchester my entire window fell out of it pain and onto me during my sleep-in the middle of a thunderstorm. Land lord told me he’d “patch it up”. And don’t even get me started on the mice and creaky floorboards.

I feel like everyone in the Boston area who’s ever rented a cheap placein the non luxury units has at least 1 apartment story like this. And yea your rents gonna increase, buddyguy. Welcome! Get ready for the snow!

No but seriously good luck-I’ve seen your story play out many times and I’m only 26...