If your neighbor has just hit you using a rent growth, looking into whether he was lawfully entitled to do so could help save you some money. There are laws in place to make sure your landlord can’t increase your rent willy-nilly or on a whim. If you locate your landlord broke any of regulations, then you can respectfully point out that his suggested rent increase is prohibited.
Lease Agreement
Your landlord can lawfully increase your rent if you have a lease agreement that contains a clause specifying that he can do so. It’s almost always a good idea completely browse through and understand any tenancy agreement before signing it. Be conscious of any rent increase clause that it comprises. If your agreement has no such clause, your landlord won’t be able to lawfully hike your rent through the tenancy period it covers. Your landlord will have the ability to renegotiate your rent when you come to the conclusion of a rental agreement and you want to renew your tenancy.
Rolling Agreement
In case you have a rolling monthly lease agreement with your landlord, she’ll have the ability to legally increase your rent so long as she’s given you the required amount of notice. In most states this is 30 days. If you’re not satisfied using a rent increase planned as you’re on a rolling contract, then you may either attempt to negotiate or move out. Your neighbor may be prepared to come down a little rather than face the frustration of finding a new tenant. Insist with a brand new rolling arrangement drawn up in case you’re prepared to accept a rent increase.
Discrimination
Under the conditions of the Fair Housing Act, it’s illegal for the landlord to increase your rent for retaliatory or discriminatory reasons. Your neighbor cannot, as an example, ask you to pay more if you have made a complaint about him to a public agency or have some other dispute. It would also be prohibited, for instance, for the neighbor to raise your rent after finding out you’re disabled or about the basis of the sexuality.
Your Options
You should complain to your local Department of Housing and Urban Development office if you feel your neighbor has increased your rent for retaliatory or discriminatory reasons. If your neighbor attempts to increase your rent as you have a lease agreement that does not provide for this increase, you are going to be in your rights to refuse to pay. Your neighbor won’t have the ability to force you to pay the required increase, and would only have the ability to evict you if you had breached the conditions of your rental.