Landlord raise rent even with lease agreement?

Question

Hi. I have a friend with a dilemma. Her boyfriend's landlord wants to increase his rent 50% a month because the landlord feels my friend (his girlfriend) is over too much. She is there during the weekends but she has her own apartment she pays rent at. He has a lease agreement that ends next month and there is no clause stating they can increase the rent for guests. The landlord has asked for the money verbally and initially they paid the increase for 1 month but are upset and not wanting to pay any more increases (landlord claims they owe a month back increase). Can a landlord increase the rent 50% even with a lease? And if they say no to the landlord, could he hold the boyfriend's security over this? Again, she has her own place but is at his place every weekend. Does that matter?

Answer 1

no, tell him to go jump in the lake, and plan to move when the lease is up,,,,,,,,,,

Answer 2

Given that the lease is up in a month, the landlord is simply notifying the tenant that the rent will increase at the end of the lease. The LL cannot raise the rent until the lease expires unless the lease contains explicit wording that states so.

Nor can the LL hold the security deposit over this issue. A weekend guest -- even every weekend -- is NOT reason to hold a security deposit. The deposit is ONLY to protect the landlord from the costs of any physical damage that the tenant does.

Your friend should withhold that increase from next months rent as the landlord had no legal right to ask for it.

Answer 3

no, if the lease agreement is still in place the monthly rent cannot change. However, once the lease agreement ends the rent can go up but 50% is insane. However, the contract is up and the landlord has the right to increase to whatever he/ she may want to rent their place for. This is a good opportunity to look else where or see if the landlord is willing to lower it to a more affordable place to continue to live. This would be the best to do first is ask him. It will let the landlord know that if he raises it to a high amount that your friend will not SIGN an new lease agreement contract.

Answer 4

Raising the rent for "guests" is actually illegal, and too many landlords have that clause written into their leases and it's not worth the piece of paper it's written on...b/c "guests" are not considered with apartment dwellings, that falls under hotel/motel laws, and the landlord can't have it both ways, nor can he legally restrict how often a guest visits.

If he is mid-lease, he is leasing a SPACE and there is nothing the landlord can do about it.

I can't believe your friend ever paid it at all.

If the landlord tries to evict him, he needs to tell him that he will be HAPPY to go to court over the matter b/c it's a case the landlord will lose...and if the LL tries to keep his deposit for that reason or charge back-rent, he needs to sue the LL.

Answer 5

I am a firm believer in this life we are all entitle to freedom
but we must follow rules there is no such word as such
when you finally leave on your own and bring your crib
with you and jump all over someone Else's bed and then fret
because not only you but your acquaintance are using up the box springs and now you worry that you have to pay
because you are entitled because you pay rent
how would you like For someone to go in your house
use up your all from refrigerator to your most expensive
blouse in your closet and use the hot water and your soap and leave it to melt in the bottom of the tub and open your beast
bottle of perfume and invite someone stranger to jump on
under the clean sheets
Do you see that minute hand on the clock it is under
contact it is so easy to follow rule it is not magic,nor is it there to Entertain what makes you think that the landlord does not work can you imagine people whom live on the words of others and do not even know to defend them self's
I always called a bus ride the road to death BUT IT TAKES YOU over that bridge to the realities
tell your Friend to go to the housing court some where he will find the the library of rules in landlord and tenants rules
and what a contract is,,
i am a landlord to me it is like raising every bodies child
if you want to live in their homes the least you can do
is treat them with respect and if you think they are abusing you BECAUSE YOU HAVE THE RIGHT
please be advised they not only pay the mortgage they pay the TAX upon the ground you stand on..
if your Friends lease is up i suppose the landlord dobbed the
amount after all face it DOES ALL YOUR COMPANY STAY OVER NIGHT that is not company /it is a Border
and you might be feeding and entertaining them..
but the utility mentor on that clock that belongs to the L.L.
The BUS ride racing too over the LIMIT and
hell whom suppose to ride this Bus
the Landlord or the TENANT,, No i am not a wise person
but surely i do not find excuses Follow the tricks
the laws listed on a Peace of WHITE PAPER
I CALL IT WHITE SO KS TO GET THERE AND A WHITE HANKIE FOR SURVIVAL thank you..i wish to had been of
HELP do you know we do not live alone and if you wish too
use your weapon lI= ONE follow Rules down the road
to success thanks child The Patrona in my estates

Answer 6

The landlord can raise the rent once the lease expires. He cannot raise it now or demand an increase because she is over on the weekends. He should not pay now and wait until the lease expires to see what the landlord does.

Answer 7

That landlord is a crooked little monkey and your friend should ask for the extra money back that he gave for that month. No way can a landlord increase rent in the middle of a lease like that. That dude is nuts.

Answer 8

The security deposit is not for rent, it's to secure the condition of the property. As a matter of fact, a friend of mine who is a landlord went to court and LOST because she had to evict her tenant, and tried to keep the security deposit for back rent. The tenant had the nerve to sue her, and she lost! (This is in Ohio, laws may vary state to state). Then my friend (the landlord) had to pay even more court fees to file a judgment against the tenant for the back rent.

What your friend's landlord is doing isn't right, and like someone else said, tell the landlord to put it in writing or pound salt. I'd deduct the extra he paid the landlord (hopefully he's not paying his rent with cash) from next months rent. ALWAYS pay rent with a check or money order so there is a receipt. Hand written receipts are worthless.

Answer 9

They have rent laws and this guy is breaking the law. Get him to do this in writing and then you can take him to housing court. He cannot tell you how often to have a houseguest. The lease goes by who signed it not the capacity unless you are living in a hotel. There should be a legal limit like 8% or something depending upon the location that is set by the state. Check with your state housing court to see what the legal raise limit can be.

Answer 10

check this out.. I am not sure what state you live in.. some of the laws are different for each state.. but this I think is a general guideline of laws..

.. Good Luck..
. I know landlords do it.. happened to me.. and happened to my mom 3x's.. now she has to move because she cannot afford it..

http://www.enotes.com/everyday-law-encyclopedia/landlord-tenant-rights

Answer 11

you didn't say what state you were in but here are to links to site that tell you about your rights as a renter, do so reading and maybe the answer is there.
my guess though is your friend is in the right as long as there is no clause showing more rent if more than orginal renter is staying there or visiting there for more than x-amount of time.

http://www.nolo.com/resource.cfm/catID/31250834-6A2E-4970-9EDD4DAF221A0C7E/104/138/

http://www.hud.gov/offices/fheo/FHLaws/yourrights.cfm

http://www.renters-rights.com/

http://www.badlandlords.info/