Can a Landlord charge me more for having a child?

[tuffbrk]

Perhaps you base the decision to sign/not sign on whether there are other apartments for rent in your desired area that cost less than whatever your new monthly rent cost will be. Factor in the packing up, moving and unpacking fun!

 

[xylene]

The rent paid by other tenants for different (but similar) apartments does not matter.

 

[ecmst12]

They can increase it as much as they want, so long as you are not in a rent-controlled area (probably not). If you don't like how much they want to raise it, then give YOUR 60 day notice that you will move. Start looking around for another place just in case.

 

[Alaska landlord]

Your LL is under no obligation to rent to you at the same rate as the other units. Each unit is different, for example unit A may have new carpeting and faces the east while unit be faces the south and has older carpeting. The lanlord can rent for whatever he feels is reasonable for his unit. You can decide to move if the rate of rent is unacceptable. As for your present problem, unless your are given proper notice go by what's on your lease. Familial discrimination is against the law.

 

[Nogginboink]

Your LL is under no obligation to rent to you at the same rate as the other units. Each unit is different, for example unit A may have new carpeting and faces the east while unit be faces the south and has older carpeting. The lanlord can rent for whatever he feels is reasonable for his unit. You can decide to move if the rate of rent is unacceptable. As for your present problem, unless your are given proper notice go by what's on your lease. Familial discrimination is against the law.

I think there's shades of grey here.

It is against federal law to discriminate against anyone based on "family status." If you can demonstrate that the landlord is setting a different rent for you than for other tenants because you have children, your landlord is in violation of the Fair Housing laws and could be sued to kingdom come. (Standard IANAL disclaimer goes here.)

See http://www.fairhousinglaw.org/fair_housing_laws/ for more.

I'd recommend you get a lawyer if you feel you're being discriminating against because you have kids.

(Note: Alaska is correct that the landlord can set rents however they want. My argument rests on you demonstrating that your rent is different solely because you have children. If that's the case, it's illegal.)

 

[Who's Liable?]

I think there's shades of grey here.

It is against federal law to discriminate against anyone based on "family status." If you can demonstrate that the landlord is setting a different rent for you than for other tenants because you have children, your landlord is in violation of the Fair Housing laws and could be sued to kingdom come. (Standard IANAL disclaimer goes here.)

The LL could also be sued if they allow more than the city,county,state, allowed persons per room is exceeded should there ever be a fire or natural disaster and someone dies.