Thank you for replies. The lease expires on 21 January. Also, the plumbers did document the ordinary wear and tear.
I understand that a landlord can ordinarily raise rent however much they want, but I question the raise immediately after finding out another person is in the apartment. Is there a reason why this behavior is not improper? For instance, it a rent raise only seen as a problem if it gets to a certain threshold? A 100% increase would be a problem, right?
In my humble experience, "if you don't like it you can leave" is how bullies negotiate, especially when there is a temper tantrum. It tells me a person does not have a rational point to make, and thinks the world must be a certain way only because they want it to be so. It is also a self-defeating strategy that will make people reject offers that they might otherwise accept out of spite. For instance, if we had a positive relationship with our landlord and utilities or market rates went up, $150 might be bearable, or we might negotiate to something less. Of course we can leave, and leaving is something we are considering because the landlord is openly disrespectful and unscrupulous. I am not familiar with landlord-tenant issues because all of my previous experiences have been positive, hence my post. What I want to avoid is allowing the landlord to get his way with bad behavior, leaving us with moving expenses and rights/remedies that weren't exercised.

