Rent Increase

[knowthyself.livejournal.com]

On a standard lease, does anyone know how much notice the tenants are supposed to be given if they are renewing their lease if the landlord wants to increase the rent?

Short version: our lease is up at the end of this month. Last night was the first we'd heard of a possible increase in our rent after making it clear at least two weeks ago that we wanted to renew for another year. Our last month deposit has not been used. Can the landlord do this? Or are they required to have given us more notice than this?

Thanks very much for any help or advice in advance!

(an apartment in Somerville/Davis Square area)

EDIT: Thanks for everyone's help, we've come to an agreement with the landlord on the issue.

Comments

[jmspencer.livejournal.com]

I also believe that they can't ask you to increase your security deposit or your last month's rent.

Yes, they can. When they increase your rent, and you sign a new lease, they can ask you for the difference in the old ledger balance and the new one. I almost got evicted last year because the person I was subletting from hadn't paid the $100 difference in her last-month rent when she had an increase a year earlier.