What to do if we had a new apartment manger wants to charge pet fee while I am still under lease?
Get Legal Help Today
Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
What to do if we had a new apartment manger wants to charge pet fee while I am still under lease?
I have lived in my apartment complex for 8 years. When I moved in I had a cat and paid a $50 pet fee. Since then the apartments have changed owners. They have changed managers approximately 6 times in that same time. The new apartment manager sent a letter stating that they are going to start charging an pet fee of $50 per month. I am under lease fot the next 3 months. Is this legal?
Asked on June 28, 2012 under Real Estate Law, Ohio
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 11 years ago | Contributor
A lease is a contract; both parties (landlord and tenant) are bond by its terms, and neither one may unilaterally add to or change those terms without the consent of the other. That means, for example, a landlord or its manager may not raise your rent or add a pet fee during the period of a lease, unless the lease itself specifically gives them the authority to do this. Otherwise, they may be able to add the fee on lease renewal, but not during the lease.
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.