Can they do this?

We moved into our apt. last April & landlord spoke to FH last week & said due to heating costs, expenses this winter he's going to have to raise our rent $75. a month.

I was mad b/c we haven't even been here a year (I was in my old apt in Whitestone for 4 years w/ never a rent increase)....but I do realize the cost of heating costs & he didn't charge us for AC in the summer.

Comments?

(It's a legal apartment in Suffolk)

Better having a lease .. that depends. Remember .. having a lease locks you in, too.

Because we didn't have a lease .. we were lucky to be able to get out of our apartment when we wanted for our house .. which was a nice point for the seller that we could move when we/they wanted.

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Posted by Kel

Better having a lease .. that depends. Remember .. having a lease locks you in, too.

Because we didn't have a lease .. we were lucky to be able to get out of our apartment when we wanted for our house .. which was a nice point for the seller that we could move when we/they wanted.

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I think in almost all circumstances, it's better to have a lease. That way, everything is in writing. You know what your responsibilities are and what the landlord's responsibilities are. If problems arise, it's much more difficult to take action when there's nothing in writing. Of course, if you don't know when you want to move, it's good to be able to break the tenancy whenever you want. However, IMO, landlords benefit more from no lease and will be more likely to $crew you over (raise the rent, not fix things that break, etc.)