Additional fee outside of lease?

[mbozulich]

( North Carolina )

Recently landlord/manager of front office "discovered" I had a pet (despite my disclosing such and paying a pet deposit when I moved in 5 years ago) and now says I owe them an extra (somewhat recently established) 'pet rent' fee going forward. I found no mention of such thing in my lease, but they say according to company policy they are allowed to charge additional fees as long as there is a 30-day notice (a stipulation I also cannot find in my lease)…..

Please advise.

 

[PayrollHRGuy]

The lease is what matters.

 

[Zigner]

Do you sign a new lease every year?

 

[adjusterjack]

If you did sign a new lease that is currently in effect then, no, they can't add the fee mid term. But count on paying it at renewal, or moving if they decide not to renew.

 

[STEPHAN]

Are you month-to-month?

 

[FarmerJ]

How much more time is left to the current lease you are in ?

 

[LdiJ]

( North Carolina )

Recently landlord/manager of front office "discovered" I had a pet (despite my disclosing such and paying a pet deposit when I moved in 5 years ago) and now says I owe them an extra (somewhat recently established) 'pet rent' fee going forward. I found no mention of such thing in my lease, but they say according to company policy they are allowed to charge additional fees as long as there is a 30-day notice (a stipulation I also cannot find in my lease)…..

Please advise.

Unless you have signed a new lease every year, once you passed the first lease period you have been on a month to month lease. Therefore yes, with proper notice they can change the terms of the lease of the month to month lease.