hello i have question ? im renting a house and i pay $1200 per month, i want to know what is the min or max that a landlord can rise the rent?
Get Legal Help Today
Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
hello i have question ? im renting a house and i pay $1200 per month, i want to know what is the min or max that a landlord can rise the rent?
The landlord rise it to another $250 on top of the original price, 1200+250=1450.is it fair?
Asked on June 13, 2009 under Real Estate Law, California
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 15 years ago | Contributor
Is the housing in low-income housing or some other type of housing where there are laws governing how much the landlord can raise the rent? If so, he/she is limited to the legal increase, and your cities housing department can help you figure out what that maximum is and also enforce it.
If not, then generally speaking, a landlord may ask anything he/she wants for rent; the question becomes whether anyone will pay it. Landlords are free to charge ridiculous amounts and let their property stand empty if they like.
Whether the increase is fair is a very context or case specific question. What do similar homes rent for you in area? That's the best gauge of "fair." But remember: a landlord does not need to be fair.
Note that if you think the landlord is trying to drive you out because he/she doesn't like your race, gender, religion, etc., then you might be able to have a housing discrimination claim, but that can be tough to prove--basically, you'd need to show that they raised the rent to drive you out, then let someone of a different race, gender, etc. rent for less. Also, if the landlord also lives in the home (such as in a separate apartment within it) then it's almost impossible to make a discrmination claim agains them.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.