We live in an apartment for 9 years. My son's friends come often. I'm considered the neighborhood mom. We have kids coming in and out but none staying 1 week like the law states to include other people in the rental agreement. I received a letter stating they know we have three more people living in this household as a result we need to pay an additional $300. We only have three people living here, all on the rental agreement. How do I fight this? I cannot afford $300 more a month, and for what? Something that is not true? Please help my deadline is this week

What specifics does your lease say about rent increases? What law are you stating covers this issue and where are you?

We live in California. We are renting month to month.

They can raise your rent with 30 days notice, they can do this every month if they want.

I received a letter Thursday stating the increase for Aug. What should I do?

Go talk to the management,

But if you have two friends staying this week, one other friend staying the next week, two others the next week, then you basically have others living there if there is always someone there.

Because of the extra number of various people coming and going, I see no reason why they can't, esp if you are on a month to month rental.

So I guess you
1. pay the extra
2. move to somewhere cheaper
3. talk to the management and stop having people over and being the neighbor hood mom

They can not legally raise your rent until 30 days have past no matter how many folks are living in your home. Once the 30 day notice, for month to month renters, has past they can do what they say. You should get yourself prepared for what grandpa used to call a wee wee match between two skunks. They can also just tel you to leave after 30 days. I am very surprised you are month to month in a unit where you have lived for so long, how did that come about?

Go talk to the management,

But if you have two friends staying this week, one other friend staying the next week, two others the next week, then you basicly have others living there if there is always someone there.

Because of the extra number of various people comming and going, I see no reason why they can't, esp if you are on a month to month rental.

So I guess you
1. pay the extra
2. move to somewhere cheaper
3. talk to the management and stop having people over and being the neighbor hood mom

I quite agree with you on this one, Chuck. It seems that the management must have been keeping tabs on this particular unit and seeing just who is staying there. The OP says that no one stays the two week limit BUT she then goes on to say that there is a constant flow of "extra" people staying with her. Just because the lease says 3 people, the landlord wants 3 people living there - not 3 regular people and several "extra" people a week.

Either pay the extra money or stop the "extra" people from staying over. Apparently your landlord does not like to pay for extra water.

I had s similar issue in TN in one of my rental houses. It was a two bedroom but they had two or three grandkids at least every week and every night. It was rented to them as a couple ( two people)

I agree, she may have to pay the extra money but she can not be forced to pay until the 30 days notice has run its course.

I live in California if that helps .

I stopped the sleepovers and I sent two faxes to the Management company. I left messages at there office with no responds. All explaining we are good long term tenants of 9 years and we are careful we do not have any guest more than a few days. Aug 1 approaching. I don't know what else to do.

The only thing you can do is wait it out.