Lease Renewal - Rent up $40/month

[tmellon]

Last lease renewal, we were told that our rent wouldn't/couldn't be raised again - it would stay at $635/month (2bd/2bth - 1000 sqft). Oral agreement - nothing in writting.

We got our lease renewal notice today (we weren't home - so they stuck it in our knocker), and they raised our rent up $40/month to $675/month. About a 7% increase.

Unfortunately, $675 is not something we can really afford. We're considered low income, as we only have one fulltime income (I "work" from home - but my income is nothing steady - sometimes I only bring home $30/month), my husbands. We're a family of 4 (we have a 5 and a 2 year old), with only 1 income of $1450/month bring home.

Is there anything we can do about this, as our landlord told us that our rent would never increase over $635/month?

We can't afford to move to a "cheaper" place (as this is the only cheapest complex without being in the bad part of town).

That extra $40/month would be using up our diaper money, and food for our kids (we live pay check to pay check).

Any suggestions??

Thanks for your help!

 

[charlesesq]

Last lease renewal, we were told that our rent wouldn't/couldn't be raised again - it would stay at $635/month (2bd/2bth - 1000 sqft). Oral agreement - nothing in writting.

We got our lease renewal notice today (we weren't home - so they stuck it in our knocker), and they raised our rent up $40/month to $675/month. About a 7% increase.

Unfortunately, $675 is not something we can really afford. We're considered low income, as we only have one fulltime income (I "work" from home - but my income is nothing steady - sometimes I only bring home $30/month), my husbands. We're a family of 4 (we have a 5 and a 2 year old), with only 1 income of $1450/month bring home.

Is there anything we can do about this, as our landlord told us that our rent would never increase over $635/month?

We can't afford to move to a "cheaper" place (as this is the only cheapest complex without being in the bad part of town).

That extra $40/month would be using up our diaper money, and food for our kids (we live pay check to pay check).

Any suggestions??

Thanks for your help!

You have no remedy. Just because the landlord says he anticipates not raising the rent much doesn't mean there is a contract not to do so. That is why you have a 2 year lease instead of 1 and it puts that promise into writing. This is common and unfortunately when the lease is over, it's time to renegotiate.