Is raising rent above what's offered to regular customers legal?

[telenochek]

Hi, we live in San Diego, California.
We lived in the same apartment for ~9 years.

As our lease is about to expire in two months,
our landlord has again raised rent by ~150$/month for 1 year contracts, not a big surprise.
We tried talking to them about it, and they 'played desperate' , and said that under no conditions could an apartment of this size, and this quality yada yada be offered at a lower price, impossible.

Yesterday, we told them that we were moving out to another place (1 month in advance)
The same exact day (yesterday), they posted the same apartment we live in for only 30$
higher than our current lease for 1 year contracts.

Is this legal?
They told us that +150$ was the minimum increase, but the same day we decided not to continue here they posted it for only +30$ increase.

150$ is a lot, but we could tolerate +30 or even +50$ increase for another year.
Any help would be kindly appreciated.
Thanks!

 

[moburkes]

What is your current rent? What was it 1 year ago? And, the LL may have decided that he would not be able to rent it for that much. Have you asked if you could stay, but only pay the $0 increase?

 

[telenochek]

Actually this request is for my parents,
so I only know the approximate numbers (give or take 20$)
Current rent is 1550$/month. A year ago, it was something like high 1400's (1470 or 1480).

All numbers are for 1 year lease agreement.

LL want to raise it to 1690$ / month (in late April 2007)
if they were to stay in this apartment.
Sure raising rent is common, but they told my parents that there was no way
they could rent it for anything less than 1690$.

However, the same day that my parents gave the LL notice that they were not going to renew the contract for another year, the same apartment appeared as available for booking for 1579$ on LL website. There is nothing on the website about promotional offers etc.., it just looks like regular rent, exactly like listings for many other apts they have in the complex.

They haven't asked the LL yet about whether they could stay for 30$ increase,
but I was just wondering whether this kind of practice is legal?

 

[Alaska landlord]

So, all you have is a lease that is about to expire. An alleged conversation and a note in the landlords possession that your parents were not going to renew. Unless you can prove some kind of discrimination you don’t have much.

 

[telenochek]

So, all you have is a lease that is about to expire. An alleged conversation and a note in the landlords possession that your parents were not going to renew. Unless you can prove some kind of discrimination you don’t have much.

That's fine, but do they have the right to rent at the price listed on the LL website?

 

[weenor]

That's fine, but do they have the right to rent at the price listed on the LL website?

No they don't have a legal "right" They can ask and the landlord can agree or not. Sometimes landlords and other companies give incentives to new tenants and/or customers that they don't give to existing ones.

 

[Alaska landlord]

Sure they do(the LL's), but they also have the right to refuse renting to whom they wish. That is assuming they are not breaking any discriminatory/ fair housing laws or regulations applicable to them.

 

[Cvillecpm]

LLs wanted your parents GONE.

 

[telenochek]

LLs wanted your parents GONE.

Actually no, because my parents are moving into a new apartment with the same LL.

Thanks for all your replies!
Best regards,
Tele

 

[ForFun]

It sounds to me like the LL was hoping that your parents would find the $150 increase more tolerable than the annoyance of moving. As it turns out, the LL's gamble didn't pay off.

He isn't hurt, though, because your parents are now occupying another of his previously empty units. I guess it was a win/win for the LL this time around...