Unconscionable Rent Increase in New Jersey
My question involves landlord-tenant law in the State of: New Jersey
Unfortunately during the exact time of my one year lease renewal my mom passed away...so I just simply renewed as the increase was very minimal. I then discovered thereafter that many of my neighbors were not renewing because the new lease they had been offered was 200 dollars more per month than new tenants coming in. One neighbor told me he was moving out - and when he called up as an outsider they offered him 200 dollars lower than his lease renewal. When he told them that he was already living there and he wanted to renew - they told him they couldnt do anything to help. Is this discriminatory practice??
In Fromet Properties vs Dolores Buel it was determined that a trial judge may consider a rent increase can be unconscionable depeding how" the existing and proposed rent compare to rents charged at similar rental properties in the geographic area".
Not only are all the exact apartments in both complexes owned by the same company offered at 200 dollars less per month for outsiders , but also similar apartments in the area.
Do I have any legal arguement here for a violation of the law? ( I did sign the new lease under duress given that I was dealing with a dying parent) Can I sue and arrange with a court to set up an account to pay in escrow pending the decision if it is worth pursuing?
I can afford to pay the rent that is not the issue- the issue is one of dishonesty and inflated charges.
Thank you so much for a reply
Re: Unconscionable Rent Increase in New Jersey
It's not a violation of the law in any state to offer rent deals or incentives to new tenants. New Jersey has no rent control statute.
You didn't feel that the rent increase was shocking to the conscience when you agreed to it, and it's apparently the same deal offered to everybody else. Being angry that new tenants are getting a better deal, or that you might have been able to negotiate a better deal had you tried, isn't a basis for avoiding the rent amount you agreed to pay.