How much to raise the rent on the best tenants ever?

[gigi]

@Harmonious Discord

Don’t tell a tenant that they’re paying your tax increase. It’s likely tenants will feel since they don’t own the house, that the increase is your problem, and you have the equity not them. Just tell them that costs have gone up and this is the new rate. Don’t explain why for ten minutes, either they think the place is worth the rent or they don’t.

I am the Best Tenant in the World for my landlords and when they had to raise the rent they told me it was because their taxes and water/sewer went up, despite appeals to the town. I totally understood that (their costs went up, they weren’t just trying to make more off me); they were paying more themselves and passing a portion on to me.

I paid $475 and they raised it to $500 and I wasn’t bothered at all. We’re friendly acquaintances, we always let each other know how great the situation is, etc., and $500 for a big place in an area where housing is getting to be a premium is a good deal.