Can they up the rent even tho I signed a lease and it isn't expired yet?

They are trying to jack up the rent on me when my lease isn't up until August. Isn't the lease a legal agreement on the price for one year? Please help, apt office closed until Monday.

If your lease does not state that they have an option to increase the rate within the 1 year term then I do not believe they can raise the rent.

Yes, it is a legally binding agreement. Assuming that YOU have not violated any lease terms, they cannot raise your rents legally until the date of expiry of your lease agreement.

Read the fine print of your contract. Hopefully, you did not sign something which DOES allow a unilateral rent increase.

check the terms of the lease. maybe they weaseled in something. after reviewing the lease and are convinced the rent is fixed for the term of the lease, tell the office (in person) that due to the stress they have caused you, you require the current month's rent to be refunded. bring a recording device along especially video camera or digital camera with video capability, or at least something to record the audio. make it clear you've already been in contact with the better business bureau, a local tv station, and an "ambulance chaser" type lawyer. talk to other tenats and find out if they've tried to do it to them as well. let your imagination run with this one. all kinds of things to do.

You cannot increase the rental amount during a lease. They can only increase the amount at the end of a lease for the pending renewal. Google: Fair Housing, and look for the toll free number, leave a message. Let them know you called the Fair Housing Authority, and see if they try to convince you otherwise.

Every state is different in that aspect. You need to look up the tenant/landlord laws where you live. Some states don't allow stuff like that, some do. At a minimum, if your state is one that allows activity such as that, there is also a clause that will allow the tenant to terminate the lease early if they wish with no penalty.

I've never seen a lease where they can raise the rent before the lease is up to renew. That is why you sign a lease so your protected from increases for the term of the lease. By law I don't think your rent could be increased until August.

No, they cannot.

Don't pay it...they can't evict you for non-payment.

I would write a letter, send it certified mail, return receipt, with COPY of the lease with a huge red circle around your rent amount and your expiration date.