Q: How much can my landlord raise the rent per year?

Answers

anon_420 on May 29, 2010
This depends on whether or not your landlord's property is located in the US. If so, it further depends on the state and the township the property is located in. The website of the township, in my case New Brunswick, has very clear rules of the amount of rise a landlord can perform and you should check your site. The rise is based on the previous year’s rent and cannot be exceeded. On the other hand, if the landlord does not enforce the rise, s(he) can also not enforce the increased rise in the next year from the new amount which means that landlords will be very motivated to do so. In an average year, this rise usually is about 3% in the township of New Brunswick. A look at the townships website on rental agreements should give you the details for your place. Aside from that you should always negotiate. Given the current difficult situation in renting, this should be a lot easier right now.

anon_419 on May 28, 2010
To answer this question you will have to research local and state laws in the area in which you would like to rent. Some cities in the U.S. have strict rent control laws while others have loose laws or none at all. This is important information if you are planning on renting for a long period of time, so you should contact your local city or county government to ask what laws will apply to your landlord. Of course, if you sign a 1-year or longer lease, the terms will be spelled out in the lease agreement, which your landlord will be legally obligated to follow.