My landlords have sold the residence in which I live and have asked me to leave. My lease is up although we had a verbal agreement when I moved in that the lease would be extended. I have now found my apartment listed on craigslist for rent at $500 more per month than I am paying. I was not offered the aprtment and wonder if I have any recourse. I am a good tenant with a history of paying on time, cleanliness, etc. DC only permits rent increases within a certain range. Is this an end run around the statute? What can I do?

Melody

I believe this is a end run around it, but I also believe that the new owner is still obligated to your month to month basis, and that while they can ask you to move with a 30 day notice, that you may be able to actually defeat the eviction if you use the craig list notice as such.

You have three basic choices. 1. move 2. fight it in housing court 3. call and ask if you can stay if you pay the higher rent.

Does the buyer own more than 4 rental units? DC's rent control law only applies to landlords who own more than 4 rental units.

The DC Govt provides a very helpful guide on rent control that covers all of these rules. You can download it at:

Department of Consumer & Regulatory Affairs: Rent Control Program (http://dcra.dc.gov/dcra/cwp/view,a,1342,q,601051.asp)

Hope this helps, and good luck!

-Bob

So, they already sold it, or they haven't yet? Lease terms convey under DC law, but DC Bob is correct. There is no limit to what landlords can increase your rent IF your lease is at the end (of course, they have to comply during the term of the lease), assuming they own 4 or less units. On the month-to-month basis following the end of a lease, or for a new lease, they (or the new landlord when s/he owns it) can raise the rent to whatever they want. In real estate law, any verbal agreements are completely unenforceable. That's the first rule of real estate contracts. If they want to sell it (if they haven't already), you also have to ask yourself if you really want a new landlord. Sometimes it's just easier to go and get on with the better karma of life. Depends on how much you want to go to court about, though it doesn't seem you have recourse for combating a raise in rent. Good luck (and note that Fr_Chuck is in Tennessee).

You need to clarify some points. If the landlords sold the house then why are THEY asking you to leave? Only the new owners have that right. If you are on a month to month lease then the actual landlord can TELL (not ask) you to leave, but they (generally) have to give you notice equal to one full rental period.

If they want you to leave, then why do you want to stay?