By Sara Gebhardt
Saturday, March 15, 2008

Q: I have been living in my apartment for a year. It's a condominium that I rent from the owner. She just let me know that she will be raising my rent. From day one, I have been on a month-to-month lease. She would like me to sign a one-year lease and pay $100 more per month. If I stay month-to-month, the increase would be $150 per month.

I think my rent may have been high in the first place. Would it make sense for me to move? How much would I have to save on rent elsewhere to cover the cost of moving? I'm not even sure how much a move would cost. -- Washington

A: Your questions have many variables, so I cannot tell you exactly what would be the best course for you. However, you should evaluate your finances and other things in your life to figure out what makes sense.

Start by researching rents. How much are comparable places in your neighborhood? What is the market rent on your condo? Ask neighbors and friends and look through apartment listings online and in local newspapers to determine whether you are paying a high price for your apartment.

Once you know this, it will be easier for you to calculate the benefit of your move. If your rent is much higher than it should be and is going to increase by another $100 or $150, then leaving might be worth it.

The next step is to research how much it will cost you to move your things. Depending on how many belongings you have and whether you can ask friends to help (and thus do it as cheaply as possible), the move may end up saving you money over the next year. Hiring movers is expensive, but if you're moving locally, you can usually find individuals or small moving companies that would gladly move you for a fair price.

There are other financial considerations to take into account. If you move, will your commute be better or worse? What other costs do you have that might go up or down?

While you're at it, remember that living in an apartment isn't just about finances. You might be willing to pay the higher rent because you love your quality of life or because you can walk to work. You might have floor-to-ceiling windows, a nice view or neighbors who don't keep you up all night. The happiness factor is something to remember as you decide whether to stay or go.

If you aren't going to feel good about staying and paying more when you could find something you like for the same or less, then move on. And if you really are prepared to walk away, you could attempt to negotiate with your landlord as a last-ditch effort. Your landlord's request to get you on a 12-month lease is a sign that she is nervous about the slow rental market and doesn't want an empty apartment. You could try to use this to your advantage -- for instance, tell her you're willing to pay $50 more per month but no more. She'll take it or leave it, and so can you.

Plus, after all your research, you may find a situation you like better. Information and knowledge will give you a lot of guidance.

When I moved into my apartment, I was asked to put down only a $99 security deposit. I have been there for two years and plan to move out when my lease is up. However, in my time there, I have had several accidents with the carpet -- bleach spill, black dye spill, etc. In my estimation, fixing the damage to the carpet is going to cost much more than $99. Can the management company legally ask me to pay more than the $99 to cover the cost of repair? -- Laurel

Yes, your management company can ask you to pay for the damage you caused, even if it exceeds the amount of your security deposit. That's why so many apartment management companies are doing away with security deposits that equal one month's rent. Many have eliminated deposits completely or charge based on credit history.

However, landlords aren't going to give you a free pass on damage just because you made a small security deposit. Read your lease to make sure, but it probably requires that you return the apartment to the condition in which you found it or pay for the irregular wear and tear.

My daughter is buying a condo. The seller wants to close as soon as possible, at the end of March. Her lease is not going to be up until July 31. She has spoken to the landlord about this. He was rude and did not seem to care about her situation. He said she will have to pay two months' rent, which is close to $2,400. That is a lot of money, given that she has to come up with closing costs, etc. Do you think this is fair? How should we handle this? -- Elizabeth, N.J.

My judgment about what is fair isn't going to matter much. What matters is the lease your daughter signed with her landlord. Usually, a lease sets out a term during which a landlord and tenant will have a business relationship. Generally, a tenant cannot get out of her lease just because she decides to buy a home. (Depending on the jurisdiction, a tenant may be able to break a lease without penalty for some extenuating circumstances, such as if he or she has received military orders or one of the primary leaseholders dies.)

Perhaps the best thing your daughter can do is try to sublet the apartment so that she can recoup the cost of rent for the months she won't need the unit. Another option is to attempt to negotiate her home purchase to delay the closing (and thus costs) or ask the seller to help out with the rent she will continue to owe. You never know what concessions sellers will be willing to make in this market.

If your daughter sublets her apartment, make sure she and the subletter draw up and sign a contract so she can protect herself in case the replacement tenant damages the unit. It seems like common sense, but also make sure she sublets the apartment to someone she trusts and whose references she has checked. If she's not careful, the wrong sub-tenant could end up costing her more than two months of rent.

Do you have questions, comments or ideas about apartment life? Contact Sara Gebhardt via e-mail at aptlife@gmail.comor by mail, c/o Real Estate Editor, The Washington Post, 1150 15th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20071.