This is my situation:
I am paying RD$8,500 monthly rent for 2BR apt in Higuey. The lease expired on 1st of June. Landlord wants to renew contract as of August 1 with rent increase RD$1,500, which is almost 18% and renew the contract for 6 months only (was 1 year previously).
I probably would move within, or at the end of, the mentioned 6 months.
I know the law permits 10% increase and only after the mutual agreement.
I know I can deposit the rent money in owner's name in Banco Agricola and go on like that if I do not agree with rent increase.
And I know it's always to be on good terms with a landlord than bad ones. He has a taller downstairs and has virtual unlimited access around the property (sides, roof, etc) to make go on small "vengance stuff".
And it would not have come to this had I not asked strongly the landlord to put on window protections on my 2nd floor apartment (the door has protection) after my 3rd robbery last week. (1st robbery no protection, 2nd robbery - afterwards a door protection was put in, 3rd robbery - entry through window). Landlord was strongly opposed to run expenses of the window protection claiming the contract did not require him to do so and that I accepted appartment "AS IS" when I rented. So we entered into a verbal argument and he came up with "I will need the appartment for my son", later changed to "rent increase".
Now my question is: Should I accept the rent increase or fight? If I stay for 6 months, the rent difference is RD$9,000. Would I be better off to accept that or pay for a lawyer and fight, and run a risk of the "small vengance stuff" trying to make my life miserable?
My second question: Do I have any legal right to claim the window protection be put in place after 3 documented robberies?
My third question is: In any case, if he tries to evict me, what minimum time do I have to look for a different accomodations?
I am paying RD$8,500 monthly rent for 2BR apt in Higuey. The lease expired on 1st of June. Landlord wants to renew contract as of August 1 with rent increase RD$1,500, which is almost 18% and renew the contract for 6 months only (was 1 year previously).
I probably would move within, or at the end of, the mentioned 6 months.
I know the law permits 10% increase and only after the mutual agreement.
I know I can deposit the rent money in owner's name in Banco Agricola and go on like that if I do not agree with rent increase.
And I know it's always to be on good terms with a landlord than bad ones. He has a taller downstairs and has virtual unlimited access around the property (sides, roof, etc) to make go on small "vengance stuff".
And it would not have come to this had I not asked strongly the landlord to put on window protections on my 2nd floor apartment (the door has protection) after my 3rd robbery last week. (1st robbery no protection, 2nd robbery - afterwards a door protection was put in, 3rd robbery - entry through window). Landlord was strongly opposed to run expenses of the window protection claiming the contract did not require him to do so and that I accepted appartment "AS IS" when I rented. So we entered into a verbal argument and he came up with "I will need the appartment for my son", later changed to "rent increase".
Now my question is: Should I accept the rent increase or fight? If I stay for 6 months, the rent difference is RD$9,000. Would I be better off to accept that or pay for a lawyer and fight, and run a risk of the "small vengance stuff" trying to make my life miserable?
My second question: Do I have any legal right to claim the window protection be put in place after 3 documented robberies?
My third question is: In any case, if he tries to evict me, what minimum time do I have to look for a different accomodations?
