Jacksonville tenants left feeling powerless as rental costs skyrocket

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – If you’ve recently received notice that your rent is increasing dramatically, you are not alone.
The News4JAX I-TEAM has been getting dozens of emails and calls from tenants who say they are being asked to pay hundreds of dollars more a month.
Right now, Florida renters don’t have any real options to address the amount of a rent increase because there are no limitations. Rent increases are decided solely at a landlord’s discretion.
News4JAX employee Sasha Saliba’s sticker shock came in the form of a letter from management at her Southside apartment complex, which is raising her rent by $398 dollars a month — a 27 percent increase — in order to renew her lease.
“When they...