'Putting people in their place is my specialty:' Tenant calls out shady landlord after failing to bump up the rent mid-lease

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Ben Weiss • Writer and Editor
Apr 22, 2023 11:00 PM EDT

It doesn't get more satisfying than shutting down your landlord. As we all know, the rental market is a blood bath right now, and this apartment manager tried to take advantage of their tenants as a result. What they didn't realize was that this one tenant was thorough and precise about what they signed in their initial agreement.

 

This thread was posted to Reddit's r/Apartmentliving subreddit by u/Mundane_Tension369, and let the original poster's email correspondence be evidence that you too can professionally stand up to your landlord if you know that you are in the right. In this case, the tenant hadn't signed any addendum allowing for such an increase in the middle of a lease. After threatening legal action, the apartment manager swiftly backpedaled. A rare win for the tenant in a world run by shady landlords! 

 

Keep scrolling below to read the full email exchange. For more, check out this story about an Airbnb nightmare. 

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  • 01
    Font - To: Manager > Rent increase mid lease Good afternoon, I am writing to again request documentation confirming that I agreed to mid lease increases. I have scoured my lease and all addendums that were signed and have not found a copy of anything confirming I agreed to this. Last month, I paid the rent and the water bill, but did not pay the increase price. Today, I paid the water bill, and will pay the originally agreed upon rent, tomorrow. I am happy to back pay last month and pay this mon
    via u/Mundane_Tension369
  • 02
    Font - Good afternoon Ms. Haylee, Thank you for brining me this item to my attention. I have reviewed your file and you have multiple documents that were not signed at move in. One of those documents is the Lease Addendum Special Provision LIHTC/ BOND/AHDP/HOME/HTF. This lease addendum, is the document where the resident acknowledges that rent is determined based upon the median income of the Metropolitan Statistical Area as determined by the U.S. Department of HUD on an annual basis. Tax credit
    via u/Mundane_Tension369
  • 03
    Font - 4 3 Messages Rent increase mid lease Per the lease, Par. 16, " No rent increases or Lease changes are allowed before the initial Lease term ends, except for those allowed by special provisions in Par. 9, by a written ad- dendum or amendment signed by you and us, or by reasonable changes of apartment rules allowed under Par. 19. If, at least 5 days before the advance-notice deadline referred to in Par. 3, we give you written notice of rent increases or Lease changes that become effective w
    via u/Mundane_Tension369
  • 04
    Font - M Manager To: HVZ > RE: Rent increase mid lease Good afternoon Md. Racz, 1:42 PM We have adjusted your rent back to and credited the difference for July and August. Hope you are having a great day,
    via u/Mundane_Tension369
  • 05
    Font - Hopeful_Raspberry556. 4 mo. ago Score! I think these apartment complexes get away with so much because people just give in without a fight. If you demonstrate a modicum of intelligence and push- back, they tend to back down.
    via u/Mundane_Tension369
  • 06
    Font - I had an apartment complex try to charge me $500 after moving out for replacing carpets, even though my carpets were in excellent condition (they were brand new when we moved in and we only lived there a year). PLUS per the apartment's own website, they were renovating all apartments to be hardwood floors. I told them I wouldn't pay it and they never pursued me further.
    via u/Mundane_Tension369
  • 07
    Font - Mundane_Tension369 OP 4 mo. ago . That's 100 percent why they get away with it. People feel like they can't fight back & worry about losing their housing
    via u/Mundane_Tension369
  • 08
    Font - Pardon_U4 mo. ago Well done! Very professional! 20 Reply Share Mundane_Tension369 OP 4 mo. ago Thank you! I like to think that professionally putting people in their place is my specialty lol
    via u/Mundane_Tension369
  • 09
    Font - Clint Turtle 4 mo. ago AYYYY nice work! As a property manager myself, this really makes me happy that there are people out there that really do read the lease.
    via u/Mundane_Tension369
  • 10
    Font - Cece_5683 4 mo. ago . Always, always, always keep your records. If you don't have it written down It Didn't Happen
    via u/Mundane_Tension369
  • 11
    Font - Enigmatic_Stag. 4 mo. ago Sad thing is, if your lease doesn't have a clause requiring you to cover it and they back off, they'll probably continue to try heckling everyone else for more cash. The things landlords get away with. It's pretty gross.
    via u/Mundane_Tension369
  • 12
    Font - giraffemoo 4 mo. ago You're my hero
    via u/Mundane_Tension369
  • 13
    Human body - GainGame21 4 mo. ago as soon as you threatened legal action they gave up Imao
    via u/Mundane_Tension369
  • 14
    Human body - sqideys 4 mo. ago what a satisfying read
    via u/Mundane_Tension369
  • 15
    Cheezburger Image 9719456768
    via Brandon Griggs

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