MY LAND LORD WANTS BACK RENT W/O NOTICE

[vincepc]

I NEED ADVICE ON WHAT TO DO WITH MY LANDLORD SHE IS CHARGING ME $3000 USD BACK RENT ON MY COMMERCIAL RENTAL OR SHE'LL GIVE ME NOTICE TO LEAVE. I'M CURRENTLY ON A MONTH TO MONTH LEASE BUT SHE NEVER GAVE ME NOTICE OF THIS ELEGED RENT HIKE. MY ORIGINAL CONTRACT EXPIRED A YEAR AGO THATS WHEN IT WENT MONTH TO MONTH.NOW SHE SAIS THAT BECAUSE I DID NOT RENEW MY LEASE SHE CAN RASE THE RENT FROM A YEAR AGO. PLESE HELP

 

[msattorney]

Month to month rentals mean that notice must be given 30 days before it can take place. So if she gives you notice on Mar 1 that the rent will go up, then it can go up on Apr 1. So if you never got notice of a rent increase, she cannot raise it retroactively. Ask to see the notice that she gave you. It should have been given directly to you and signed or sent registered mail return receipt requested. If you are interested in staying there for awhile, it is probably safer to sign a year's lease and then renew it again for additional years.