Q: Lease ended 7/31, landlord did not notify of renewal, nor increase. Today he increased 20% verbally. Is this legal?
I've been with this landlord for 4 years (yearly term), never any complaints about me, and I've referred over 6 tenants, and i've renewed each year with our increase with the old management. Over 3 years I have complained about leak in the roof which has not been fixed. The lease expired on 7/31 and under the new management the landlord did not verbally advise nor sent written notification (30-60 days before) that the renewal would imply a rent increase. He has now increased the rent from $925 to $1100 which I cannot afford. He has also requested that the last month rent be paid in advanced in order to renew. This was news to me yesterday way after the lease expired. Also, he has expressed the past that is not planning on fixing the roof because doesnt have money for that. He is not giving us enough time to plan ahead and consider if we can afford to stay or need to move out. Is what he doing legal? What can we do?
A: On a month to month lease the rent amount can change any month. Every month is is new lease. So if landlord decides next October 1 he wanted $6,000 per month you would have to pay it or vacate after giving you only 15 days notice to pay the new amount or vacate. Statute only afford tenants 15 days notice when landlord terminated a month to month tenancy. Your options are to find a new place and quickly if you cannot pay the extra $175; but it may cost you more than that to move so last minute too.
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