What is the legal amount a landlord can raise your rent?

Question

My rent is $700 per month. My landlord just raised it to $850. Thats an increase of $150! Is this legal?

Answer 1

Where are you located? Some municipalities have a cap on rent increases, and others do not. You would need to check with your particular city.

I know in San Francisco, the limit is 4% per year. Berkeley has similar restrictions too. Other cities have no restrictions. So, it all depends on where you live.

Answer 2

You need to know if Beverly Hills is a rent controlled city. Like Los Angeles is rent controlled and the landlord has no right to ask for an additional security deposit once the tenant has moved into the apt. If it is rent controlled he can only raise it by a certain percentage of the current rent, which I think is still at currently 4%. At least in California, if you are a long term tenant, they HAVE to give you back your security deposit if you don't damage the apartment (beyond normal wear and tear). If there is damage they MUST give you an itemized list of repairs and costs and must give you the remainder back within a certain period of time. Go here to the links I listed below and see if Beverly Hills is covered...and good luck.

Answer 3

Probably.

I live in Virginia, where there are no limits on how much a landlord can raise the rent. A smart landlord keeps an eye on the market and raises the rent to just within tolerance. A fool prices his tenants out of his building.

Answer 4

If your term of contract is expired, then i would need the landlord will have the rights to increase the rental. However, you have your rights as to whether to continue the rental or to rent elsewhere. If you think the increment is too much, you should sit down and discuss with the landlord.

Also, it will depends on your Country of living. And perhaps the market rate for rental has increased, thus the landlord will have to move along with times.

Perhaps, you wanna tell us more information on your current staying.

Answer 5

That depends on where you live. Some places like the San Francisco Bay Area have rent control laws that forbid any rent increase greater than 10% per year. Find out if there are any rent control laws in your area. If not, then your landlord is allowed to increase the rent as much as he/she wants.

Answer 6

I suppose it would depend on your city and/or state rental laws. Read your lease--what does it say?
No lease in this area (midwest) means a landlord can raise your rent to whatever amount they want to. The landlord does have to give a 30 day notice of the raising the amount of rent though.

Answer 7

Yes, it is legal for a landlord to change your rent unless the increase is in the middle of your signed lease agreement or unless there are local statutes capping an increase.

Answer 8

He probably feels that he can get more. Maybe the rental market had recovered in your area?

Mostly up to 5% is very reasonable to increase the rent. I assume that u live where there is no rent control.

Answer 9

yep, it's his place and he can raise it as much as he wants but not in the middle of your lease agreement. He has to wait until it's time to renew you rental agreement. He also should have but doesn't need, some sort of justification for the raise. Like did he do ugrades or rehab work? Paint? Put in new appliances? Or, if the city rezoned the property and now his personal property taxes went up he can pass that on to you too.

Answer 10

It probably is. There are no longer rent-controlled apartments like there once were. In NYC, a small one-bedroom is well over $1500/mo. so don't feel so bad. Try looking for another place in your area.