My landlord says she is raising my rent by $100 per month. Can she do that? In Massachusetts is there any limit to how much a landlord can raise the rent?
-- Shelly, town not given

If you have a lease for a period of time, your landlord cannot raise the rent until the period ends. With a tenancy-at-will, however, you and the landlord agree that you will remain her tenant and pay a specified rent until one of you decides you want to change the arrangement. In that case, either you or the landlord need only give notice of the intended change, such as your decision to move out or the landlord's decision to end your tenancy.

If you have a typical month-to-month tenancy, your landlord must give you notice of her intent to end your current tenancy and begin a new tenancy at a higher rent at least 30 days or one month from the day your next rent payment is due, whichever period is longer. So, for example, if your tenancy began on the first of the month, your landlord would have to give you notice of the rent increase on or before January 29 if she wants the increase to take effect on March 1st (because February usually has only 28 days).

As for the second part of your question, under Massachusetts law, unless you are receiving a rent subsidy from the government, the landlord's ability to raise the rent is limited only by the market and what renters are willing or able to pay. If you have other questions, the Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs has prepared a very helpful Guide to Tenants' Rights: http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=ocaterminal&L=3&L0=Home&L1=Business&L2=Landl...

(Submitted by the Editor)