What is the name of your state? PA
Four tenants signed separate leases for a four-bedroom apartment for the period of one year, beginning August 26, 2006, and ending August 18, 2007. Rent is paid per month and the amount is specified in the lease. These leases were signed in January of 2006; several months later, the property was bought by a new landlord, who has chosen to install wireless internet service throughout the premises for use by tenants, and is requiring all tenants to pay $15/month per person in additional rent for this wireless internet service. The service is being added under a section in the lease entitled "OPTIONAL SERVICES", that states that if landlord chooses to add any optional services, "such as laundry facilities, rental of small appliances, etc, the charges for such services UTILIZED BY TENANT shall be deemed additional rent." In this case, the four tenants do not wish to utilize this wireless internet service, and rather would like to obtain internet service from another provider in the area. The landlord claims that the "addendum" for the wireless internet service has been made a part of the lease, yet there have been no papers signed indicating this. Also, the leases originally signed by the tenants, under the previous landlord, contain no other provisions allowing landlord to add and charge for amenities and/or services other than the above stated section "OPTIONAL SERVICES", nor does the lease contain any provisions pertinent to a transfer of ownership of the property to a new landlord. Can the landlord legally require the tenants to pay the extra charge as a rent increase for a service the tenants do not wish to utilize? Are the tenants required to sign any addendums that modify their current lease?
Four tenants signed separate leases for a four-bedroom apartment for the period of one year, beginning August 26, 2006, and ending August 18, 2007. Rent is paid per month and the amount is specified in the lease. These leases were signed in January of 2006; several months later, the property was bought by a new landlord, who has chosen to install wireless internet service throughout the premises for use by tenants, and is requiring all tenants to pay $15/month per person in additional rent for this wireless internet service. The service is being added under a section in the lease entitled "OPTIONAL SERVICES", that states that if landlord chooses to add any optional services, "such as laundry facilities, rental of small appliances, etc, the charges for such services UTILIZED BY TENANT shall be deemed additional rent." In this case, the four tenants do not wish to utilize this wireless internet service, and rather would like to obtain internet service from another provider in the area. The landlord claims that the "addendum" for the wireless internet service has been made a part of the lease, yet there have been no papers signed indicating this. Also, the leases originally signed by the tenants, under the previous landlord, contain no other provisions allowing landlord to add and charge for amenities and/or services other than the above stated section "OPTIONAL SERVICES", nor does the lease contain any provisions pertinent to a transfer of ownership of the property to a new landlord. Can the landlord legally require the tenants to pay the extra charge as a rent increase for a service the tenants do not wish to utilize? Are the tenants required to sign any addendums that modify their current lease?