Lanlord charges different prices for similar units

[AlexInCali]

In California, resident managers can not be given free or discounted rent in lieu of a wage. They must make minimum wage by law.

What makes you think this?

Wage order #5 of the Industrial Welfare Commission.

As a resident manager, you can receive SOME rent credit towards the minimum wage requirement with a signed agreement, but there is a cap. I beleive it is around $400. Anything over than must be paid as wages.

So, yes, after reviewing this, the situation here witht he maintenance agreement is completely legal. In fact, a resident manager is not even required because this complex has less than 16 units.

Our Landlord just wants us to pay more than every other tenant (So much for loyalty after almost 10 years!) I don't know why. We're going to ask. I'm curious to know the response. We can always ask to move into one of the cheaper units... and again I am curious to know the response.

Historically all the units here have been the same price. They didn't lower the prices for the other units until just recently.

 

[AlexInCali]

Yes. The layout can be duplicated exactly, but not the view or exact location within the complex.

If that's really their reason then we will be applying to move to a cheaper unit.

That's not their reason though, since historically all units have been the same price. If they want to start with different prices now, ours should be one of the cheapest, not the most expensive!

They may be trying to get rid of us. I don't know really. It just doesn't feel right, though since we have all determined now that there is no legal issue, there's probably not any point in my posting anything more about it here.

Thanks everyone for the opinions, though!