Can a landlord raise your rent because your child turns 18?

[EKW]

My sister was given notification by her landlord (to complicate things, the landlord is related by law) that her rent is going up $100 a month because her oldest child just turned 18.

The rental property is in Colorado.

Does anyone know anything about real estate laws? I guess a landlord can raise the rent anytime they want...but it doesn't seem legal to do it based on the age of a child.

My sister has lived in this house for 3 years and the landlord didn't say a thing about it until the 18th birthday had come and gone.

With the way schools start kids now, if your kid gets held back a year you can have a 19-year-old senior. I don't know, this whole thing just seems "off" to me.

 

[blanq]

Does your sister have a lease agreement? If so, what does it say relating to rent increases?

 

[momsully]

This is going to depend on the rental agreement. What does the lease say with regard to who is living in the house? Some lease agreements charge by the number of adults living in a house. When is her lease up for renewal? She may be able to negotiate if the child is still in school.

 

[EKW]

No lease. This started out as my sister doing this person a favor. The landlord built this house, planning to move "home". Then fell in love and decided to stay put.

My sister was at a transitional point in life and the landlord asked her to move in and care for the home until the point at which it is needed (at retirement).

In the past year the landlord has tried to pull things several times. Once my sister was asked to get rid of her dogs in return for a discount in rent. The landlord knew full well that my sister had the dogs when she moved in. Why did the landlord want the dogs gone? When the landlord visits family (once or twice a year) he/she wants to have his/her dog at my sister's house...and my sister's dogs make it nervous.

Next up, the landlord asked my sister to vacate the master suite. Again, this would be in return for a lowered rent. My sister basically told the landlord that she has NO plans to move her bedroom set into the livingroom and live there just so the master suite can be available for the landlord for one or two weeks a year.

My suggestion to my sister is that she find somewhere else to live and leave the landlord in a lurch. These demands are getting more frequent and crazier and crazier. Yes, it is a very nice property, but, my sister could find something the same size for the same price...or less. The difference would be that this property is 4 years old...everything else would be old.

 

[ceecee]

No lease.
My suggestion to my sister is that she find somewhere else to live and leave the landlord in a lurch. These demands are getting more frequent and crazier and crazier. Yes, it is a very nice property, but, my sister could find something the same size for the same price...or less. The difference would be that this property is 4 years old...everything else would be old.

Exactly what she should do, weird landlord there! He actually wanted to stay with her while visiting his family? TOO weird!

 

[pandora174]

I'd move. Best decision I made is to rent through a property management co. Professional, lease is clear. No surprises. I've had some wonderful landlords & a few nuts. Sounds like your sister has one on her hands. My sanity, privacy & stability for my family are my main priority. So far so good for us, but I would move & pronto, JMO in your DS situation

 

[Sunbeamblue2002]

Moving would be best but next up would be to call the cities tenits right assosiation. They would be able to guide her though this and advocate for her if the landlord is wrong. Sounds like things are changing in his life and is trying to push her out if you ask me.

 

[Leajess99]

My friend and I both agree that she needs to move out ASAP. He is trying to take advantage of her.

 

[momsully]

My suggestion to my sister is that she find somewhere else to live and leave the landlord in a lurch. These demands are getting more frequent and crazier and crazier. Yes, it is a very nice property, but, my sister could find something the same size for the same price...or less. The difference would be that this property is 4 years old...everything else would be old.

I agree she needs to move out. Not sure where in Colorado she is but there are ALOT of rentals right now and not all of them are old. Depending on where she is, she could probably find a decent rental that is less than five years old.

 

[Disney_Freak56]

Without a lease, it sounds like this "landlord" can do whatever he feels as long as she allows him to. There are landlord/tenant laws and in most states, they favor the tenant, but without a lease, she doesn't have much of a chance to dispute anything.

A discount in rent or not, there's no way I would have put up with any of that stuff. But that's just me. I think it would be in her best interest to find a new place to live. Without a lease, I don't think she would even have to give a 30 or 60 day notice, but I'm no lawyer.

 

[Brer Shay]

I agree she needs to move. In most areas, there are plenty of properties available and with home sales down, rentals are up. Get out, get a real lease somewhere else, and get away from the craziness.

 

[pyrxtc]

She should move out and then not have to deal with any of this. Or get the owner to write up a lease so she has things in writing.

Also, owner knew that Sister had a teen when she moved in. Did they think your sister would kick them out when they turned 18 ? Usually the "extra adult" fee applies if you move in a roommate or BF, not when your child turns 18. They are still considered dependents and not adults in a rental situation when they are living there before they turn 18.

 

[EKW]

I'm going to share this with her...thank you all for your input!

I just moved myself...because I found a job, thank heaven!...and found that rental prices now are much lower than they were 3 years ago. I'm trying to convince her that this is the time to move...rental prices are low, there are a lot of properties available...and she wouldn't have to deal with these headaches if she had a lease!

BTW...I totally agree with the poster who suggested renting thru an agency! My last landlord was a total flake...moved cross country 2 weeks after I moved in and never responded to any request for repairs, etc...even when the request came from the fire chief after we'd been hit by lightening!!! I will never rent from an individual again!