Park Avenue Apartments    |    Dawn Sauvageau    |    Fargo    ,    North Dakota 58103    Landlord Complaint 23-0224

On September 6, 2011 I signed a 1-year lease term with an option to go month-to-month at the end of the 1-year with Park Avenue Apartments. In order for me to be subject to the increased rental rate, Park Avenue Apartments is required to give me a proper 30-day written notice of the increase prior to the increase being effective. (ND State Law) On June 25, 2012 I received a renewal notice where I was also offered three options to sign a new lease for; 12-months, 6-months, or 60-days. Each of these options had different rental prices associated with them. The letter stated they no longer offered month-to-month leases. I spoke with management and they agreed that I was able to go month-to-month per my existing lease contract. I paid my rent payment on time for September 2012. On September 6th, I received a call from the Property Manager stating I was on the delinquent list because my check was not for the proper amount. Dawn, the Property Manager, stated that my rent had gone up by $40 per the letter that was provided to me on June 25, 2012. After reviewing the letter with her, nowhere in the letter does it state any increase in rent for my month-to-month term. We discussed that I have never been properly notified of a rate increase for my current lease. She stated that my month-to-month rate is the same as the 60-day lease rate that was offered in the letter. I told her nowhere in the letter is a statement that my month-to-month rate has increased. Dawn stated that if I didn’t pay the additional $40 that she was going to start the eviction process with the corporate office. I reached out to the corporate office via phone twice and spoke to Mindy. She stated that the property owner, John Adams, received my message and addressed the issue with Dawn. Dawn called me back and stated that they have the right to increase my rent when I revert to a month-to-month term. I stated I completely understood that but the problem is they have to properly notify me of the increase in order to do so. September 6, 2012 is the first time I have verbally heard of this increase for my month-to-month term. Dawn has stated that she will provide me with a written notice of the increase in tent as the law requires. I received a letter dated September 7, 2012 stating that my rent increased by $40 on September 1, 2012 reflecting the month-to-month charges per the renewal letter dated June, 25. The renewal letter does not have month-to-month charges listed.