In our lease agreement it does say that after the lease expired there would then be a month to month amount of an increased unless there was a new lease. However, the landlord never contacted to renew the lease. We continued sending him our rent for our normal amount and he continued to cash the checks each month. Now SIX months later he says he wants to renew the lease and is trying to collect $600.00 for the difference in the amounts when we were, I guess, technically not on "lease" terms. Does the fact that he was cashing those checks mean that he was legally accepting that amount for the rent? I cannot believe that after SIX months he would be able to come back and say we own him that after he was cashing our checks, NEVER attempting to contact in writing or by phone? HELP. Thanks

He has nothing in writing to say you owe more rent for the past six months and him cashing the checks is legal proof that he accepted that amount as payment. I think he would have to prove he contacted you and your signing of a new lease agreeing to those terms.

Your landlord is not right. After your initial lease, the lease goes to month to month. If the landlord wanted an increase in rent, it was his obligation to inform you, a 30 days notice of informing you, that there would be a rent increase and how much. He cannot collect some obscure amount of money that you were never notified about. Ask to see your paperwork in his office. Bet there is not a copy of such a notice of rent increase.

Do you have a renter's court or housing court in your area? Any place that mediates landlord/tenant disputes? A Fair Housing Council? You should get ahold of a lawyer, just to protect yourself. At the very least, get an informed and legal opinion of your rights and this scumbag's dealings.