Amazon.com Review Anyone who's ever run afoul of a landlord will appreciate the information contained in Every Tenant's Legal Guide, a comprehensive handbook of tenants' rights put out by Nolo Press. Are you curious about the strange-sounding clause in your lease? What's the best way to make sure your security deposit is returned when you move out? Janet Portman and Marcia Stewart answer these and countless other questions as they walk readers through each step of renting, from finding an apartment to giving notice. Credit reports, rent control, grace periods for late rent, privacy rights, evictions--the book lists the legal rights and responsibilities of both landlord and tenant in almost every rental situation imaginable. If you do get into legal difficulties, the state-by-state charts listing key landlord-tenant laws might come in especially handy. But the time to acquire this book is before things come to such a pass. With Every Tenant's Legal Guidein hand, you just might save yourself a lot of aggravation--and money. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

9 Responses to “Can Rent On A Lease Be Increased During The Lease?”

1. Wildcat says:

   September 15, 2009 at 3:14 am

   NO – they can’t do that! This is part of the point of having a lease. The rent cannot be raised during the lease term. It can only be raised when the lease is renewed.
   look up your states landlord/ tenant law, copy the statute on this issue, and send that to your landlord with a letter stating that if they insist on breaking the law that you will consult an attorney to legally break your lease.
2. margie k says:

   September 15, 2009 at 3:41 am

   No, the landlord cannot legally do this. A lease is a binding contract and the rent stated on it cannot be changed in the middle of the contract. You can legally pay the landlord the amount you are paying now and put the increase into an escrow account. Then contact a lawyer. Send the landlord a certified letter with this information in it about the escrow account etc. The lawyer will then see about your next step or options.
3. ?infinit says:

   September 15, 2009 at 4:03 am

   Your lease is a binding contract between you and your landlord. Your landlord cannot unilaterally change the contract. The rent will remain the same until it is time to renew your lease.
   Your option is to show the landlord the lease, and explain to him that you know your rights. The lease is a contract. It takes an agreement between both of you to change it.
4. infinite crisis 247 says:

   September 15, 2009 at 4:48 am

   your landlord cannot change the lease terms in the middle of the lease as it is a binding contract between renter and landlord. he would be in breach. i would reread the lease carefully, show it to your landlord and tell them that you will not pay the increase. if they persist, speak to an attorney or the township about it.
5. moviebuf says:

   September 15, 2009 at 5:15 am

   You really should check with a real estate person of some kind. Your landlord should know the rules about raising rent. I can’t believe that he would do something so stupid as break his own lease. So there must be some kind of catch in the lease that allows him to do this
6. GWB says:

   September 15, 2009 at 6:13 am

   No they cannot not.
   Now, if utilities are included and they get a raise in cost, my lease says I can adjust for that.
   But that would only be a very few dollars.
7. WDOUI says:

   September 15, 2009 at 7:00 am

   Does your lease state that a rent increase is not allowed or does it say nothing there is a big difference. You may need to check with an attorney
8. Trouble says:

   September 15, 2009 at 7:35 am

   NO! As long as you are ‘SURE’ there is no ‘increase’ clause in your Leas he is S-O-L!
9. Landlord says:

   September 15, 2009 at 7:44 am

   No, he has to wait another 9 months.