My landlord wants to increase our rent at the end of our lease...

[MarkL444]

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Maybe it's just me, but I don't see how raising the rent 50% without significantly increasing the square footage, or otherwise drastically improving the property, is anything short of attempted robbery. Since I don't see him completing an addition in one week, I am assuming he intends only to renovate the existing space to change the use of one room. If that's the case, tell him to go [censored] himself.

Scott

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Im with you on this one. Basically he is now going to be making more off of the exact same property. And why? Because he made it less comfortable for its tenants? Eff that guy.

[SammyKid11]

So much is wrong with this equation:

1) Your landlord should not demand that you decide by mid-January whether or not you want to renew your lease 7.5 months later. This is wholly inappropriate and unreasonable. Tell him you simply cannot commit that far in advance and that if he can't bend on that, you will regrettably have to move out.

2) Your landlord cannot fundamentally alter the place you're living while your lease is still current. Politely inform him that you have rights under your current lease and that one of those rights is peaceable enjoyment of your leased property, as you leased it (a 2 bedroom with a full living room, not a three bedroom with no living room). If he pushes, threaten legal action against him...if he doesn't concede, TAKE legal action against him.

3) This alteration of the property does not lend itself to your living situation. You have one roommate and the two of you are happily paying your rent to live in a 2-bedroom with living room house. Tell him for your purposes as tenants, his alterations (even if done properly after your lease expires and/or with your permission) simply don't work for you...and that if those are his locked-in plans you will definitely be moving out. You might also let him know that finding someone to pay 900/month for a three-bedroom, no living room place might be a challenge for him given that most people enjoy living rooms.

4) His rent hike of 50% is unreasonable. Tell him if he initially undervalued the price of his lease that you're willing to work with him on an incrementally-higher payment...but that for the next lease period, you're really only willing to go as high as...I dunno how high you're willing to go...maybe $750?

All in all, it sounds like this guy is a total doofus who doesn't understand what he can and cannot do to tenants. If he refuses to work with you on these points, you should really find a different place to live. But DO NOT let him alter the property to your detriment while your lease is still current -- that is clearly against the law. And even if he is willing to give up the alterations entirely and work with you on rent, DO NOT commit yourself that far into the future by signing a lease that runs through August '07 in January '06.

[NateDog]

Lest we not forget that (at least in my California properties) your landlord can give you a 60 Day Notice to Vacate 60 days before your lease expires. Then you won't have a choice in the mattter, you're out.

PM me if you need any advice. I'm an asset manager for a mid size multi-family/commercial property management firm. My legal knowledge is limited to CA, CO, NV, and AZ though.