Rent Increase

[Bama7370]

I am so mad! My landlord of 5 years sent me a letter yesterday saying he was increasing our rent $35.00 a month starting May 1st. Is this legal when our lease isnt up for renewal til Aug.? What makes me even madder was that I was fixing a leak in the wall where all my stuff got ruined, when the letter arrived! Id be more than willing to pay the increase if we werent renting such a DUMP of a house! Arent their codes for having exterior doors that are solid and electrical problems, bugs plumbling leaks etc? Thanks for any help and letting me vent.
Betsy

 

[Arlene]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Bama7370:
I am so mad! My landlord of 5 years sent me a letter yesterday saying he was increasing our rent $35.00 a month starting May 1st. Is this legal when our lease isnt up for renewal til Aug.? What makes me even madder was that I was fixing a leak in the wall where all my stuff got ruined, when the letter arrived! Id be more than willing to pay the increase if we werent renting such a DUMP of a house! Arent their codes for having exterior doors that are solid and electrical problems, bugs plumbling leaks etc? Thanks for any help and letting me vent.
Betsy<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
If you have a lease for a certain term, like one year, then the rent stated in the lease applies to that term, and the owner cannot impose an increase until the end of the term. There are usually state laws which require that a rental unit be maintianed in habitable condition. And there are local agencies, like the Department of Public Works, that will send an inspector to check the condition of the premises and who will cite the owner if the property is not up to code.