252$ rent increase

**Jerry91** · 08-20-2013, 10:39 PM

I can understand what you are going through. Well, I don't know whether or not it will help but you can look out for Section 8 housing. Apart from this, you can even contact your friends and relatives and check out if they can let you know if there is a better rental property available in their area.

**JoeP** · 08-21-2013, 05:56 AM

Was a reason given for the increase? Seems like an over-the-top increase. Can you appeal to the landlord's good nature, if they have any?

**hamchan** · 08-21-2013, 06:14 AM

No, we cannot get section 8. We make well over the median household income for our area. And we are really stuck as far as where we can live because my husband needs to be able to walk to work. His shift starts before the buses begin running, and since he is blind driving isn't an option. It would also be difficult to live far from the medical center as he is having to spend more and more time there. Blind people can't live in the 'burbs if they don't want to or can't rely heavily on others for transportation. Even if we could do that the car expenses would be more than any savings on rent.

The reason given for the increase is that the market has gone up. The real reason, if you ask me, is because we are the last people in the building with cats and they are trying to price us out of here.

**hamchan** · 08-21-2013, 06:16 AM

There was a 120 increase 1 and a half years ago too. My husband has lived here for 14 years. The heavy increases didn't start until they decided to make the building "no pets".

**hamchan** · 08-21-2013, 07:15 AM

They are my husband's cats. He has had them for 6 and 9 years. He will not even consider getting rid of them.

**bjl584** · 08-21-2013, 10:25 AM

You don't actually need to get rid of the cats. You just need to make the landlord believe that you did.

**hamchan** · 08-21-2013, 10:41 AM

Wish that were feasible. They are noisy and they like to sit in the window.

**JoeP** · 08-21-2013, 12:34 PM

Have you checked for rentals on CL? There may be a location nearby that fits your needs. Also, take a drive or walk around and see if there are any rental signs in windows or on yards. Not sure of the area you are in, but in my city, some merchants have apartments above their place of business.

If what you said is true, then you don't want to stay there and get bled dry, do you?

Short of that, can you reduce your expenses so things aren't so tight? Maybe increase your auto deductible, or drop cable/satellite if you have it, or get a prepaid cell phone. Just throwing some ideas out there.

**ua_guy** · 08-21-2013, 01:00 PM

That's sad to hear. Have you tried approaching your landlord or management company and letting them know this is a hardship right now with your DH's medical expenses and condition?

I assume by DH you mean "Dear husband" or maybe "dependent -" -something or the other. In either case, I came across a great website the other day and I was thinking it might apply to your situation. Do you know what your finances will look like if DH passes on? Are you prepared? I'd be really cautious about entering into another lease agreement if his contributions and/or income cease. There's also lots of good checklists, etc on there to prepare the both of you for either's unexpected or sudden departure. The site says what it means, and tells you how to do it:

http://www.getyour****together.org

Edit: the middle word is apparently censored by this website and breaks the link to the URL. The middle word starts with 'S', ends with 'T' and it comes out of your rear end, if that's a hint. If you can get over the use of a profane word, there's really good info and tips on there.

**Petunia 100** · 08-21-2013, 01:37 PM

Originally posted by hamchan View Post

Starting November 1st. After spending the evening looking at rental listings, it's pretty evident that we will not be finding anything that will work for less than that. So we have no choice but to absorb the increase for the privilege of continuing to live in this dump where getting awoken by gunfire is a somewhat regular occurrence. I am pretty sure there are mice living in the walls as well. I just spent the last several months working every extra shift I could to get the credit card and tax bills paid off, only to have to pay two times as much as the minimum payments of those in a rent increase, and DH's medical expenses still rising exponentially all the while with no end in sight. I wanted to go on a short vacation, just once, before DH dies or gets too sick to go. Doesn't look very likely right now.

The hits just seem to keep coming your way, Hamchan.

I have to tell you, in your situation, I would be more concerned about my spouse, his health, and enjoying what time remained to us, than I would about avoiding debt.

Along with some previous posters, I agree you should make a diligent effort to find more affordable housing, provided the stress of the move would not be too much for dh.

**hamchan** · 08-21-2013, 02:44 PM

The bottom line is that we do have enough coming in to absorb the increase. It will mean that hospital bills take longer to pay off and/or we have less money each month to put into savings, but we are fortunate enough right now that this is not going to be a huge stretch or put us into the red. I hope we will still be able to go somewhere on a trip. We'll just have to wait and see. Maybe it would be worth using a CC at this point to make sure it happens.

There is somewhat of a possibility of us moving closer to the airport where I work. The rent would be about the same as we are paying now, but for a larger and nicer apartment. For this to work out though, DH (dear husband) would need to first be able to switch to later shift. In addition my daughter would have to decide she does not want to attend high school here. Because even though we live in a crappy area, it has the best high school in the city. If she wants to go to high school here, rather than in Alaska where her dad lives, we need to stay in our current neighborhood.

I am trying to get DH to talk to the landlord about maybe giving us a little more time, at least until he's not having to go to the doctor 4x a week. I don't know if he will, bug the worst he can say is no.

We really do need to get our **** together regarding my DH passing too. That concerns me greatly. There are some counseling services here that help with that and see free. I'll check out that link too. DH is contacting research centers that test stem cell therapy treatments. I am trying to be hopefull that something may come of it, but that's about all we have.

**Gailete** · 08-21-2013, 04:29 PM

I would recommend contacting whoever is in charge of landlords in your city government (sorry not sure what they would be called). Some cities have rules about how much of a rental increase they can make each year, along the lines of no more than 10%. Landlords can get in trouble for trying to raise rents past the city limit for rental raises a year.

I know it feels bad, but does your husband really care so much about 2 cats that he is willing to spend over $3000 in rent increases this year and each year forward, plus all the past and subsequent raises due to the cats? He may not want to think about getting rid of them, but what about leaving you behind with enormous debt because he won't give up his cats? Sorry, but this doesn't seem like a very caring thing to do to a wife as he seems to be saying "I prefer my cats to you'. This needs to be a deep serious discussion between the two of you. My hubby had to give up 4 cats when he married me as I was allergic nor did we have the money to support their regular care. You obviously need to stay in the area due to his health, so the only thing that can change is the cats even if you are still 'getting by'. The minute his boss can't accommodate him anymore with his health issues you are going to have a real problem getting by and even paying for the cat food.

**WISEWOMAN** · 08-21-2013, 06:18 PM

I don't know what State/City you live in but there must be some type of rent control. There is also the American's with Disabilities Act that may help you in your situation.

If your rent is being raised due to the cats, it's discrimination. There are numerous non profit housing agencies that may be able to help you.

I'm sorry for your situation. I understand your husbands choice about the cats. I couldn't depart with my pets and given his dire situation, it's selfish to ask him to part with them IMO.

Sending prayers and positive thoughts your way!

**hamchan** · 08-22-2013, 06:57 AM

We live in Seattle. They only have to give us 60 days notice if increasing the rent more than 10%.

252$ rent increase