What actions can I take if the landlord raised the rent after I have signed the lease?

Answer 1

if you have a lease you landlord cannot legally do this. you can sue in small claims to get your money back and a good laugh when the judge or court commissioner chastises him

Answer 2

Get your lease out! Read it very carefully! Does it give him the right to raise the rent at anytime? If so you’re screwed! If not get online and pull up the Renter Right Laws for your state. Send the land lord a copy of the lease via certified mail and request a return receipt. With this write a letter telling him that the lease prohibits him from raising the rent until the contract has been fulfilled. Let him know that you will make your payments a specified in the lease. He can not do anything to you. Wait for his response. If it doesn't seem that he is going to reply send him a copy via certified mail of the renter hand book and highlight the area where it talks about leases. Write another letter letting him know that he is breaking the contract and you will be seeking legal repercussion against him if he continues to pursue this further. If he is still on you about it. There should be a free legal service that the state provides to people in your area, contact them and set an appointment. Bring all the copies of the letters you sent to the land lord and the receipts that he received them. Also bring anything that he might have sent to you. I am a legal assistant and I went through this problem. Let’s just say they let me out of the contract and we moved with no consequences. They were so ready to be done with me, because I knew my stuff. What state do you live in??? If I know I could help you more.

Answer 3

How can he have raised the rent? A lease is a contract, and a contract's terms can't be changed after it's signed. Did he change the amount on the lease after you signed but before he signed? Then he should have had you initial the change. Ask why this happened, and if you get nowhere, you can take him to small claims court and sue for the difference plus court costs.

Answer 4

That depends upon your lease, most have a clause that states the rent may be raised as long as you are given 30 days notice.

Answer 5

The lease should have contained terms pertaining to periods of rent review and maximum increases.

If the rent has been raised excessively above market value you can resolve the case through arbitration. See a solicitor.

Answer 6

Check the fine print to make sure you are not in a "net lease" which can change. If the lease clearly states that you pay x amount form this day to this day, it cannot be changed without your permission. Did you keep a copy of your lease?

If he/she is incresing your lease and you are in a standard lease agreement which states what i wrote above, you can report them to the office of fair housing and equal opportunity act. Here isthe website http://www.hud.gov/offices/fheo/

Answer 7

Bluff.... Call or go speak with him, show him your lease where it designates the amount of rent (if it doesn't...ur screwed). Tell him if he raises the rent above that amount or doesn't lower it back, then you will be consulting with an attorney. If you have to, say your uncle is one or something. BLUFF If that doesn't work, call the housing authority for your area for help.

Answer 8

Move out. It is a great time to buy almost anywhere in the USA. Buy a foreclosure and fix it up or something with a ton of equity. This will benefit you in the long run. Make sure to write off all your repairs and interest as an investment cost on your taxes.

Good Luck!

Answer 9

your lease should tell you if the landlord can raise the rent without amending the contract. if it says he can, then you're stuck paying the higher rent until the contract ends.

Answer 10

If you have the original lease and it specifically states that your rent is $800.00 beginning on the 1st day of May, XXXX, and the lease was written for a specific term....then I would pay accordingly to the lease and not a penny more. Please do read all fine print.