The DOJ announced a lawsuit against U.S. landlords as residents face rising rent costs
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Legal experts and housing analysts are offered advice to help renters understand their rights and explore potential ways to negotiate lower monthly payments.
RELATED: DOJ is accusing 6 major landlords of scheming to keep rents high. Two of them manage 21 properties across Jacksonville
The Department of Justice (DOJ) recently announced a lawsuit against several major U.S. landlords, alleging they engaged in price fixing by sharing sensitive data about rental prices and occupancy rates. The lawsuit has sparked concerns among renters nationwide, including in Jacksonville, where residents face rising rent costs.
More than 50% of Jacksonville renters are classified as “cost-burdened,” according to data from the Nonprofit Center of Northeast Florida. This means over half of renters in the city are spending a significant portion of their income on housing, leaving many struggling to make ends meet.
For renters facing temporary financial hardships or struggling with high rent, Jacksonville Area Legal Aid lawyer Rafael Mas emphasized the importance of proactive communication with landlords.
“It could be more likely to request a rent decrease if the decrease is for a temporary period of time—let’s say for a few months,” Mas said. “And of course, the landlord has to be on board and agree with that. If an agreement is ever reached, make sure to have that in writing. A lot of people use email nowadays, but document everything in writing. That helps.”
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