I would move. The largest increase I ever had when renting was under 10%, usually in the 2.5%-5% range.

If you don't want to move, you could also just ask your landlord the same question you asked here to find out why the sudden increase when you've been a good tenant. Could it be that your original lease price was lower than the market? Maybe if the landlord knows you're contemplating moving, he/she may work with you to reduce the increase.

I would definitely talk to my landlord about it. I have been here in my apartment for what will be 5 years in March and have not had one increase. The longer I stay, the more I think about it. The economy is much worse now than it was when I moved in and still no change. I haven't signed a lease since my first on was up, so basically I'm here month to month. I have been a little late a couple times with my rent, but that was when I was laid off my job for 9 months and trying to live on unemployment. 25% is a huge increase. That would move $400 to $500.

With that being said, a few things would have to be answered in order for me to answer the question. You could have lived there for 20 years with no increase and if that is the case, then maybe a 25% increase would be warranted. So, how long have you lived in this apartment, and has the rent increased before?

I'm wishing I signed a 2 year lease. My landlord is great but the company the owns the property wants her to raise rent by about 20% for new tenants (plus new fees for pets and parking), and I'm worried mine will go up when I go to sign a new lease.

Worst part is, is that this place is a steal, so I can't really blame them..nice building, good location, etc. I'm realizing that my job really doesn't pay me enough for the cost of living here (Seattle) so I'll be in a real tight spot if my rent goes up $200-$300 next year (crossing fingers for a raise).

On another note, I have talked a landlord out of a rent increase before, so its worth a shot! They were an independent owner and we were great tenants compared to frat boys. Rent increase isn't worth extra hassle from d-bag tenants in my experience.

Are you interested in staying there for a while yet? What I'm getting at is, as long as this is not a college apartment or something, it could be worth offering to sign a longer lease (renew for 2 years vs. the standard one) in order to keep your current rate. An occupied apartment at a lower rate should be more appealing to your landlord than an unoccupied expensive one.

Buy a house.

We pay $1900 a month so a 25% increase in rent is a H-E-DOUBLE HOCKEY STICKS NO. What are the tenant laws in your city? Did the landlord provide you with sufficient notice?

I agree with my fellow Wooters. Talk to the landlord and if there's no room for negotiation, then move.

@underinsomnia: Holy cow, almost $23K of your income goes to rent? How much are houses in your market?

I'd tell my wife she's crazy. We own our house, but she's pretty sure she's the land lord.

Seriously though, at the cost of most apartments you could probably look into a house or a condo for that much.

@narfcake: Yeah, I am too. That is the only sure way you are going to avoid rent hikes. You might have real estate tax hikes though... And of course, if you have an ARM, your mortgage payment may hike too (don't get an ARM!!!). I think the worst part is not being able to just move out as needed.

But, my mortgage payment on a three-bedroom house with a finished basement was like 10% more than the one-bedroom basement apartment I was renting. With a 3.5% down payment, it is a pretty sweet deal especially when the tax effect is factored in.

Completely depends on what rents for similar apartments are going for in your area. If it's low, I'd still try to negotiate. You have to figure the landlord will have some costs to face if you move, and some time where it isn't earning him any money. Also, the next tenent may not be as easy or pay timely. If rents have gone up a ton in the area, I'd still try to negotiate, but your power isn't as great. Good luck.

I live in an area with a low cost of living so my rent isn't that crazy, however I'd at the very least question the motives behind the action. If they were justified and I was satisfied with everything else, I'd stay, but if it was too expensive or I felt I could get a better deal somewhere else, I'd just move.

In my experience, Landlords will do that when they want the tenant to leave, want to rent to a family member and want the property available, or are going through financial troubles themselves. You should talk to them as soon as possible to discover the reason.

I have some friends in ND who's rent increased from $425/mo to 1350/mo with the oil discovery and housing shortages up there. Now THATS an increase!

@tsfisch: Welcome to New York.

@lll0228: Are they currently renting other properties in your building for the same they are asking you to pay?

@lll0228: 20 or 25% of 1500 bucks is a bit on the high side. It does sound like a rather high end property as well. As has been said, talk to your land lord/property manager, and find out why they're jacking rates on you. 250 to 300 dollar increase is pretty pointed, and unless they feel its an acceptable rate for anyone, you'll want to find out why. Also, check with your neighbors, and see if any of them are getting a rate jack, or if they're already paying what you're being raised up to.

In the phoenix metro, nearly every apartment I've ever rented had a "move in special rate" which lasted for the first year, then when lease was up, jacked over to "standard rates" which were in the 15%-30% higher rate. Most people moved once a year to keep rates low.

on a side note, I love how I interject common sense, and get voted the ---- down. Suppose I could have just bandwagoned with "omg that msut be ALLEGAL!!!1111 omg SRSLY teh laww wil sez ur saef!"

I rented a house (3 br, 2 1/2 ba, 2 car gar, large kitchen w/ wet bar and breakfast, formals, large yard, etc.) in a very nice neighborhood for just under $1000 a month. Other rentals were going for twice and three times that. My landlord was wonderful and let me paint, build a deck with bar, and landscape the front while he paid for supplies. If he wanted 25% more, I would say Yes! with no problem. But in an apartment... Nope, don't think so.

Now I own my own home.

@waltertangofoxtrot: I didn't down vote but in many cities where certain properties are rent stabilized, rent controlled, or in some cases getting a significant tax break from the city it may be illegal to raise the rate more than a standardized percentage. Those buildings aren't owned by the city but owned by individuals (or groups) who were quite aware they purchased a building that had those limitations in place.

It depends on where you live. I've lived in quite a few rent stabilized apartments in New York and I've had at least one landlord try to jack me beyond what he legally could and he was shut down pretty quick.

@waltertangofoxtrot: We are not talking about Section 8 housing. We are talking about rent stabilized, rent controlled, and in same cases due to the developer taking a tax abatement from the city a cap in how much the rent can be increased to encourage affordable housing.

Section 8 housing is a completely different beast.

In the 3 scenarios I just outlined, most cities do not contribute to the difference between market rate and the rate that the tenant is paying which is why you see so many horror stories about landlords doing shady things to evict rent controlled and rent stabilized tenants. If they got full rate they'd have no reason to kick them out.

That said, apparently rent control/stabilization is prohibited in Washington State so the point is moot.

Personally, I would move. Of course, that was also because I found the original rent to be somewhat overpriced anyway. I do know several people who have spoken to the apartment manager and got the rent increase reduced though, so if you like the place you could always try that.

I have lived here for 13 years and 2 months to be exact; when I moved in my rent was $595. The landlord has gone up periodically until now my rent is $900. I just rec'd a notice today that rent was going up $15. in June. He just raised it last September, 2012, prior to that, Febr, 2013; for the last 2 years it seems he has gone up 2 times in a year. Each time it is $10, $15, $25., a couple of times it was $35. So over the time I have been here, it has increased $320. counting the upcoming raise of $15. for June, 2013. I was laid off last June, but I have not told him, as I was hoping he would not raise it anymore. The last time he raised it in September, he stated that he would not raise it again. I should have gotten this in writing, because I don't know if he meant, well of course he would not raise it again for the year, as that was Sept. when he said that. So again, he has gone against what he stated.