Need advice in a big way

[Blinkin]

Hi Guys:

This question is out there a bit, but I have no idea on how to approach it in a way that would b effective.

Our apartment complex is managed by a company that manages 80ish% of apartment complexes in the county. Today, we discovered that our rent is is going to raised our rent nearly 29% in March. Both my wife and I are on SSDI and got a record increase for 2023; 8.6%. In 20 years, this one increase is only slightly less than the total increases over the last 10 years. It's a lot of money for us, but doesn't come anywhere close to the hike that we're looking at.

We have already cut everything possible from the budget and still fall deeper behind each month.

The amount of the rental increases in the last 4 out of 10 years has been 10 to 12% for a 14 month lease (The longest one that they will accept). We have managed to talk the management company down to about 6% each year. The plain fact is that we can't meat the 29% that they want and we cannot afford to move; The money just isn't there to pay a security deposit, rent and other cost.

So, my question is, how in hell do I make an offer for half of the rate increase and not get told "No"?

It is my firm belief, based on conversations with neighbbors, that the rent offers that we have been getting are not the same offers that other renewals are seeing and that the complex manager is making a deliberate effort to force us out. We have been here 18 years, never late on a payment or asked for 1 thingg not absolutely neccessary. The complex, while reasonably nice, is 30 years old and in a part of town in decline. The apartment simply not worth 30% more and I can't believe that anyone would sign a new lease at that rate of increase.

I don't have a clue how to approach this and not weaken our position

[Oniya]

You say that the other tenants' increases have been substantially different.  That might work to your advantage, as it would potentially show discrimination.  Get as much information about these other offers as you can, so that you can tell the property owner that you know that this increase is out of proportion.  If anything that should strengthen your argument, rather than weaken it.  You might also want to see if any disability lawyers in your area offer free consultations (I'm not sure how much the legal profession has changed.)

[Vekseid]

You will need to review the tenancy laws in you state and see what redress might be available to you, and likely consult with a lawyer. Here is a rundown for North Carolina. It is possible for example that your price increases may be viewed as discriminatory. Get statements from your neighbors on record and see what legal resources are available to you in your state. Even if you don't make use of them, figuring out where you can turn to sooner rather than later is best.

You may also be eligible for further housing assistance.

I would phrase your statement to them accordingly.

- You have been making your payments on time for 18 years.
- You have never caused issue in that time.
- You have spoken with your neighbors, and found you are being specifically overcharged via this increase.
- Cite the discrimination statute by its number.
- Explain you cannot afford the increase presented.
- Explain you hope to negotiate an affordable arrangement.

If they ignore you, you will probably need to get a lawyer to draft something for you. Hopefully you can find free resources near you for this.

[Esoterica]

You may be able to get someone from Social Services to help you. There are some programs out there for cutting costs for people during the pandemic. We got a credit towards our internet for example and I got put on a few Covid relief programs myself to help pay off debt, but had to get help from Social Services to do it. (I have epilepsy and I'm on disability) There are also lawyers that will work on cases like this for free so I'd look into that. Good luck Blinkin.

[Zaer Darkwail]

Others have given a great deal advices already; gather evidence of discrimination going on, check local laws about such acts and contact lawyer with evidence in hand. But overall though; if manager has already decided on discriminate on you and force you move out (or anyone else), the manager may just want drive rental folks out so he can free the property for either to be sold or crumbled down and rebuild to be more profitable long term (albeit if part of city is in decline he may seek sell entire property while it's valuable).

Meaning you need mentally prepare even if you win the legal battle, you may indeed be forced to move anyway. As manager unlikely stops the plans even if you win, it just makes them more platantly and more forceful. At best you can demand the manager pays the fees what it takes for you to move out to new location.

[Blinkin]

Ummmm, it's an apartment complex and the management company doesn't own it. It's only has 2 empty units, although if that 30% is more than us, that will change fast. They already have a problem with single lease residents, so it's not just us. Tearing the place down would be really hard to do with 108 families on the property.

We've made a counter offer, lets see if she responds. If she says no, I can go over her head and ask one of the partners if they actually set the rate increase, or if the manager did it on her own. I find it hard to believe that they would cut their own throat by losing a third of their income from the property.

What she can do is push us out and try to rent the apartment for twice what we're paying. You could buy a house and pay a mortgage for less than we pay now. My brother only pays about $800 a month for his house mortgage and it's twice as big as this apartment.