When to Expect a Memphis Apartment Rent Increase
Sep 16th, 2007 by Memphis Apartments
As a long time Memphis apartment renter, you are well accustomed to the increases in your rent payments that take place at least annually. If you are new to Memphis apartment living you may not be aware that your Memphis apartment landlord can increase your rent payment. Of course, he cannot simply raise your rent for no reason. There are laws he has to follow. But you should expect a rent increase at least every twelve months.
Your lease probably defines the conditions under which your Memphis apartment landlord can and will increase your rent. It may not indicate how much the rent increase will be so your Memphis apartment landlord is not locked in to that amount. The amount of notice the Memphis apartment landlord is required to provide should be described in your lease. If it is not, he is required to follow the state laws pertaining to rent increases.
There are several reasons your Memphis apartment landlord might increase your rent. The first is the annual increase. Think of this as his annual increase for the cost of doing business. Each year it costs more to maintain the property so he spreads that cost out among the tenants. Each tenant receives a rent increase. Often the amount of the rent increase is dependent upon the number of bedrooms in the Memphis apartment.
If you move someone into your Memphis apartment who is not on your lease, your Memphis apartment landlord might increase your rent. This is often separate from the annual increase. Your state law should specify whether or not your Memphis apartment landlord is permitted to do this. The likelihood of your Memphis apartment landlord raising your rent increases the more people you have living in your Memphis apartment. The Memphis apartment landlord’s point of view is that the more people, the more damage to the Memphis apartment. Since he can only ask for one security deposit, he increases your rent to cover his potential repair costs.
Your Memphis apartment landlord is required to give you notice before raising your rent. Generally he will give you at least sixty days notice so you can financially prepare for the increase. The amount of notice should be stated in your lease. It should not be less than state requirements. If it is, contact an attorney to see which you should follow.
If you are on a month-to-month lease, your Memphis apartment landlord might be able to raise your rent more frequently. His reasons for raising the rent must be documented and reasonable. If you feel he is increasing your rent so you cannot afford to live there, contact your attorney. He will help you file a complaint with the housing court to prevent your Memphis apartment landlord from continuing to raise your rent. The court may award you damages in this situation.
Remember that you do have rights as a Memphis apartment renter. You have the right to proper notice before an increase becomes effective. However, if you cannot pay the rent increase, you may be asked to leave. Your Memphis apartment landlord also has rights and one of those is to increase rent amounts annually. Some states provide no regulation on the amount of the increase.
If your Memphis apartment landlord does not provide you the required notice, you are not required to pay the additional rent. Every transaction that takes place between you and your Memphis apartment landlord should be in writing. This is your documentation of understanding. If you end up in court you will need written documentation to support your case. Never pay money to the Memphis apartment landlord without first knowing why you are paying it. Always get a receipt for your rent payments. You do not want your Memphis apartment landlord saying you agreed to the rent increase but did not pay it if you did pay it.