questions & answers

Question: We have been renting our current property for 3 yrs. It changed owners after the first yr. We live in a 3 bedroom our first yr lease had us paying 750 a month rent. When the new owners renewed the following yr they raised the rent to 800 a month. Upon our third renewal and 2nd yr with new owners they raised the rent to 850 a month. This will be our 4th renewal 3rd lease with new owners and they have offered lease renewal for 1851 a month. This is a 1000 dollar increase monthly. Not only does it appear unethical, it seems illegal. Is this illegal? Fmr for this area is about 1360.

Answer: Under Arizona law, a private landlord may propose to increase the rent rate by any amount before the landlord and the tenant renew an existing rental agreement, so long as the tenant is given the chance to either accept the new rate and renew the agreement or decline the new rate and move out.