lodger's vs. tenant's rights (rent, lawyer, house)

[bethu2]

I have rented rooms from people for years, and never had a problem until now. The landlady with whom I lived wanted to raise my rent $200.00 after only 10 months, although, she told me after I moved in that she had wanted $200.00 more but didn't get any responses.
So 10 months later I paid my rent and the next day she told me she needed to raise my rent. I told her that I am officially giving her my notice to leave. Later that evening she says, "Let's give it a couple of months". I did not know what she meant, and was still stunned and upset to ask. I thought she might be reconsidering. I asked her again a couple of weeks later and she said yes to raising my rent. I said I don't know if I can find a place in 10 days. She wrote me a note a couple of days later, saying she didn't like the tension in the house and wanted me out sooner than later. I paid rent on the 15th; she wrote the note on the 6th. Her note acknowledged that I paid up to the 15th and implied that I could stay until the 4th, or 21 days, at $25.00 a day. Since I did not want to stay there a day longer or pay her a dime more, I was determined to find a place, and I did and got out by the 14th.
I left her a note stating the facts, as I knew them. She expected me to stay and pay the amount she demanded in her note, that did not add up correctly to what I paid in rent, which is another reason I needed to leave. When I told her I was leaving, she flipped out and, characteristically, has kept my room deposit, claiming that I owe her money for leaving.
She told me she spoke with a lawyer who says as a lodger I don't have the same rights as a tenant- who does not live with the owner of the house. I read that if a landlord plans to raise a tenant's rent over 10%, she needs to put it in writing and give the tenant 2 months notice, that is 2 months of the same rent. I gave her 30 days notice and left within 30 days.
Can anyone offer any truth regarding lodger vs. tenant rights?

Thank you,
Beth

[Jenkay]

Originally Posted by bethu2

I have rented rooms from people for years, and never had a problem until now. The landlady with whom I lived wanted to raise my rent $200.00 after only 10 months, although, she told me after I moved in that she had wanted $200.00 more but didn't get any responses.
So 10 months later I paid my rent and the next day she told me she needed to raise my rent. I told her that I am officially giving her my notice to leave. Later that evening she says, "Let's give it a couple of months". I did not know what she meant, and was still stunned and upset to ask. I thought she might be reconsidering. I asked her again a couple of weeks later and she said yes to raising my rent. I said I don't know if I can find a place in 10 days. She wrote me a note a couple of days later, saying she didn't like the tension in the house and wanted me out sooner than later. I paid rent on the 15th; she wrote the note on the 6th. Her note acknowledged that I paid up to the 15th and implied that I could stay until the 4th, or 21 days, at $25.00 a day. Since I did not want to stay there a day longer or pay her a dime more, I was determined to find a place, and I did and got out by the 14th.
I left her a note stating the facts, as I knew them. She expected me to stay and pay the amount she demanded in her note, that did not add up correctly to what I paid in rent, which is another reason I needed to leave. When I told her I was leaving, she flipped out and, characteristically, has kept my room deposit, claiming that I owe her money for leaving.
She told me she spoke with a lawyer who says as a lodger I don't have the same rights as a tenant- who does not live with the owner of the house. I read that if a landlord plans to raise a tenant's rent over 10%, she needs to put it in writing and give the tenant 2 months notice, that is 2 months of the same rent. I gave her 30 days notice and left within 30 days.
Can anyone offer any truth regarding lodger vs. tenant rights?

Thank you,
Beth

You'll probably have more luck posting this on the "renting" forum.

[moved]

I agree with Jenkay.