Q: My renewal lease increased by a whopping $289. Reason given: new tenants who move into the same apt pay more..
Meantime, three neighbors who have the very same apt were only given an increase of $50, $86 & $100. Something is terribly wrong here. Why is there such a discrepancy between my lease and theirs? Why doesn't the same criteria apply to them? Have resided in the same community for 2 years in Palm Beach County, FL. The manager is also claiming that my lease is an early bird special? LOL!
A:
There is no Florida law that requires a landlord to rent similar apartments at the same exact rate. It sounds like the landlord is trying to equalize rates, which explains why some tenants had less of an increase than you did.
For example, since you have lived there for over two years, the chances are good that the other neighbors have lived there less time than you have; is that right? If so, then their rate was probably higher than yours--before the new adjustments. Bottom line: Either agree to the new rate or find another cheaper place to rent.
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