Rent To Own Forms

Many cities have adopted ordinances limiting the amount by which landlords can increase the rent of a tenant. These local laws are generally considered valid in spite of contrary state law.

Rent control covers normally residential housing (and not office space, commercial mallls, etc.) Since it is generally designed to help low-income tenants, it is rarely applied to a luxury accommodation and sometimes does not apply to single family homes. In some cases, the tenant must prove that the premises are his principal residence, and may be barred from subletting the premises to a higher rent (this is to prevent wealthy people from the rental of many properties and sub-letting at higher levels, thus putting the government in the affairs of subsidizing profits for the rich at the expense of the owners).

In some cities, the landlord is entitled to increase the rent when the premises vacated - he may instruct the tenant's rent higher, but can not increase the rent until the tenant lives yourself. This is particularly important for cities that have rapidly increasing property values, to prevent people from being moved on the streets or in slums by rising rental rates. If it causes the owners to go bankrupt if it can exacerbate the housing problems by reducing investment in new housing (due to reduced profitability caused by rent control).

The least restrictive form of rent control prevents landlords to evict tenants with low incomes simply to increase the rent - in the form of rent control, the landlord can not refuse to renew a lease without cause (fault tenant, etc.), and can not increase the rent beyond a certain statutory maximum. Many times this statutory maximum is related to the index of consumer prices (to allow the owner to adjust the rental rates to inflation).

Keep in mind that rent control laws vary from city to city, and are subject to interpretation.

WARNING: The following is intended for reference purposes only and not as legal advice.