Q: URGENT: my lease is up tomorrow, landlord just showed us new lease today with a $200 rent increase. What are my options?
Lived here 9 years. Our lease says everything - rental increase, repairs, etc. - needs to be in writing. Landlord is notorious for not answering emails so we typically call and discuss matters that way. He fixed a repair we asked for, then told us he was raising the rent $200. Today, the day before our lease is up, he sent us the new lease. We can't afford the rent increase due to pandemic, he doesn't care. Lease says rental increase need 30 days prior written notice.
Biggest concern is three years ago we asked to have my grandmother added to the lease. He said yes but never drew up a new lease with her name on it (he didn't even know we had a lease last time we spoke, he thought we were month to month). Since we received no written notice for the increase, can we fight this without being evicted? Or could he backlash by kicking out my grandmother since there's nothing in writing?
Edit: lease says no lawyers/intervention, all disputes we have to solve with landlord ourselves.
A: You need to hire a landlord/tenant attorney who can review all documents involved. No one can give a proper answer without reviewing the leases.
Bruce Alexander Minnick agrees with this answer
A:
This lease is probably unenforceable--as an adhesion contract--but that is irrelevant if the landlord is a crazy as he sounds. If I were you I would STOP going back two years in time to bring up old dead issues.
DO NOT KEEP ARGUING with this nut.
If I were you I would NOT sign any new lease.
I would pay the first month's (increased) rent on time; and then
I would immediately go looking for a better deal and move asap. (All landlords are dying right now; so ALL SMART landlords will beg you to come with them.)
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