Apartment and home rent
prices have been skyrocketing since the pandemic ended, and some viewers say it's more
than they can handle.
Lately,
Kane in Your Corner
has been receiving a ton of
calls from people upset about big rent hikes.
“Building management will be raising our rent 15-24%,” says
Heather. "I understand there is inflation, but this rent increase is
absurd. I am reaching out to you to please help in any way you can."
But New Jersey does not have
statewide rent control, neither do New York or Connecticut. Some cities and
towns do, but not the one Heather lives in. So, is there anything she can do?
Well, maybe.
The New Jersey Department of
Community Affairs says a tenant can't be forced to pay an unconscionable rent
increase. If you think you're being hit with one, you can choose to keep paying
your old rent.
Your landlord can try to
evict you, and a judge will decide if the increase is fair based on the average
rent in the area, the landlords' profits and whether the increase would shock a
reasonable person.
If you're going to try this,
you need to set aside the extra rent money each month because if you lose,
you'll owe it all at once. Currently, you can only do this in New Jersey; New
York and Connecticut don't have that kind of law.
New York is considering one,
in fact, it would go even further, limiting rent increases to one and a half
times the rate of inflation – but right now, that's just a proposal.