A landlord can increase the rent of a rental property as long as he or she maintains the property properly. The maintenance and repairs regarding a rental property depend on what is written in the agreement if you have one. The law requires landlords to ensure that the property is in livable condition and provide basic features like safe structure, functioning plumbing, heating, and electrical system along with pest and mold control.
The role of the landlord in maintaining property
If any of these is in a faulty situation, the landlord must fix it as soon as possible. The bigger the issue, the sooner it should be repaired. It is also necessary that these repairs and maintenance meet the codes and regulations of habitability condition. Hiring a licensed professional is a requirement for the landlord while maintaining a rental property.
The role of the tenant in case of unfair rent increase
When a rental property does not have suitable habitability conditions, it is unfair for the landlord to increase the rent. A tenant can contest such an increase and has the legal right to do so. A tenant should always inform the landlord about any issues that they are facing regarding the condition of the place. It is required to take photos, and videos and notify in writing to ask for repairs. These records must be documented as these are important in building tenant defense against landlord harassment.
Communicate first
Formally notifying the landlord about the condition is a requirement. While the tenant can exercise legal rights, the landlord must also be notified. Communicating the issues and the necessity of maintenance can sometimes prevent any dispute. If the landlord gets the damages repaired within a suitable timeframe, there is no need to choose any legal course.
Legal representative
If the landlord ignores his duties, the tenant has the right to inform authorities. They can even hire legal representatives to build a defense against the rent increase without providing suitable habitability conditions. Lawyers can help renters get compensation for any damages caused by the property’s condition. They can also make the landlord perform necessary repairs before increasing the rent.
