questions & answers

Question: The landlord says water is included in the rent. I have a two bed room and he has decided to increase the rent because I am getting a roommate to afford the initial increase he has already made. I have a two bed room apartment and have lived alone for a year, one of the bedrooms are empty and he wants to raise the rent stating that having two people living in a two bed room means more water use. Do I have any rights here? I was paying $600.00, he raised the rent to $750.00 because he is the NEW owner and says it is necessary. Now he says he will raise it again.

Answer: As a general rule, under Arizona law a landlord may raise the rent by any amount when a rental agreement expires and is up for renewal. The tenant then has the choice to either accept the rent increase and renew the agreement or end the agreement and move.