How much is normal for rent to increase in a lease renewal ?

Submitted by MacaroonParticular99 t3_z8h74p in boston

I live in Roxbury and my landlord sent out a lease renewal this week and is asking for a $175 increase in rent. Last year I released and I only had a $25 increase. Im new to Boston renting and I was wondering if this is pretty standard for the area. I've had no work done on the apartment in 2 years and a $200 total increase over these 2 years feels like a lot but maybe its standard? My apartment is relatively old, unrenovated, and I don't have a dishwasher or laundry machine in building if that matters.

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BoredinBoston524 t1_iycmghw wrote

I’m surprised by the folks in the comments saying this is not normal - over the summer/leading up to Sept 1, these subs were filled with people (myself included) seeing rent increases of 20% or more (which was higher than 175). Should it be normal? No. Is it “normal” this year? Yes. And given the increased demands for rentals while the housing market remains a dumpster fire, we are likely to continue to see these moves by landlords.

Without knowing anything about your apartment beyond location and number of bedrooms, 2400 is a fairly competitive going rate in this current environment and it sounds like your landlord is trying to edge closer to mid-market rate.

You can always counter, however, and should. There is enormous risk to landlords when changing tenants and it is much better for them to maintain good tenants than take a risk with new tenants. Your landlord may just be testing the water to see what they can get.

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MacaroonParticular99 OP t1_iycoj8s wrote

Thank you for your response. It’s good to know all this is unfortunately standard this year. I’ll try to counter.

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Wtf_is_this1234 t1_iycp4uy wrote

There's less risk involved when the landlord knows he'll find a new tenant shortly after the current tenant says they're not renewing.

In truth, I challenge anyone who's renting right now to run the numbers and find a 2 BR house that can truly cost less than $2,400/month. Between the mortgage payment, property taxes, insurance, water/sewer and heating bills, it's just not realistic anymore.

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BoredinBoston524 t1_iycpl8e wrote

I have always lived in places that would immediately fill upon my departure and successfully countered twice. An apartment going unrented is not the risk - and with the exception of a small window during COVID has really never been an issue in this area. The risk is getting a tenant who ruins your unit and/or doesn’t pay. Even if countering is unsuccessful, there is still no reason not to try.

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jojenns t1_iybn3pz wrote

Old rent new rent? # of bedrooms?

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MacaroonParticular99 OP t1_iybng6f wrote

2 roommates, started 2200 now 2400

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lammnub t1_iyf8yyx wrote

Imo it could be a lot worse. If it doesn’t kill your budget and you like the place, I’d suck it up and pay it. For reference: my old place went up $700/mo

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chad_trooper t1_iybspbg wrote

A lot of landlords lowered their rents during covid and are now bringing them back up to "normal" values. But there are other things too. If heat or hot water and included in your rent than it makes sense to increase it by a lot too. Maybe he got an increase in property taxes. Maybe he's just being a greedy landlord. Whatever the reason, you have the option to try your luck somewhere else. Housing is brutal around here though

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lukibunny t1_iybwn7h wrote

but even with the increase he is only paying 2400 for a 2 bed room, which isnt bad for being inside of boston.

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psychout7 t1_iyczswx wrote

Roxbury is different pricing than most of the neighborhoods people ask about around here

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BoredinBoston524 t1_iyd6sl9 wrote

Northeastern sprawl (amongst other colleges) has/is changed/changing that. A quick search on apartments.com for 2 bedrooms in Roxbury reveals 37 results for 2200 or less, 92 for 2400 or less, and 246 for 2800 or less. And some of these are misrepresented because they are actually apartment buildings with a “range” of pricing (but never actually have availability in the low end of the range).

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Creepy-Ad2944 t1_iycj7no wrote

Is heat and hot water included, home heating oil is over $5.00 per gallon, water and sewer cost have increased 10%

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jamesland7 t1_iybpgvg wrote

That’s a bad deal. Likely the landlord trying to force you out

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nebirah t1_iybor9y wrote

I live a few miles outside Boston and my rent increased about $200 in six years. Do the math.

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BluestreakBTHR t1_iyblmpf wrote

That’s fucking robbery.

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Wtf_is_this1234 t1_iyclnuj wrote

Sadly, the cost of oil/natural gas and electric is skyrocketing so yeah it's expensive, but it's not like you can buy a 2 BR house and maintain it for any less than that.

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