We rent out bedrooms with full-access to the home in a house we own but do not occupy. Each tenant is on a separate monthly rental agreement. One individual is disabled, and his rent has been far below market value. Market value in our neighborhood for house/bedroom rent is $500/month.

We raised the one tenant’s rent last year by $30 so he currently pays $300/month. We wanted to do this as of January 2009, but he prevailed upon our good nature to postpone it until March of 2009.

We want to raise his rent again, as of January 2010. He has been a tenant for over 3 years, so we know we have to give a 60-day notice.

We want to raise his rent by another $30/month, but from what we’ve read, we cannot raise it by $30 until March–i.e. in CA, raise the rent by 10% every 12 months, or by 5% every 6 months, correct??

Should we just raise his rent by $30 in January or follow the “absolute” letter of the law and wait until March? If we hadn’t been so softhearted, we’d raise his rent in January.

Thanks for any input.

When new landlord takes over…..
We’ve been renting our home for 2 years. Never had lease or rental agreement, everything verbal. Owners live next door to us and decided to sell both properties(they have to sell the homes togeter cause the water line is conjoined.)Escrow has not closed yet and the people who are buying the house keep coming by trying to get us to sign a paper they typed out themselves saying we will stay here for a mimimum of six months paying $1000.00, when out rent used to be $800.00.What is the minumum or max. amount of time we have until we have to move, and how much are we required to pay?If we get evicted by them, do we still pay rent for that month? cause we need every bit to move now. this is all been unexpected. and we surely can’t afford their price, we barely made it befor, please help…….

Renters Rights
I posted a question to you on 6-5-08 and really need an answer ASAP as my LL is now said he is going to evict me. My ”Q” was if my CA LL can tell me that when my 1yr lease ends (7-1-08) my new rent will b 1500 Mo 2 Mo (No mention of deposit) then a Mo later say it 1600 + 1600 dep., then virbal agreement of 1500, then 2 days later tell me 1600 + 1600 dep. pd b4 7-1-08 so 2 hold the apt. I already live in for myself. When I moved in last year LL chose to wave deposit (1000 at d time). Can LL now ask 4 deposit 1 year later? Can he keep changing rent agreement once virbal (w/wittness’s) and ask me to pay b4 my lease end n Im pd up to 7-1-08 (I pd rent 1yr in full when moved in)? Now on 6-6-08 LL gives me new rent contract (first written notice of increase) n wants me to pay 1600 dep. by 6-24-08 so 2 hold my own apt. for myself. N that I MUST pay 1600 on 7-1-08 or he evict me. Don’t I have right 2 a 30 day ”written” notice of increase which would have been on 6-6-08 right? What can I do? What are my rights here in CA? PLEASE HELP not much time left!!!!