Can a landlord raise the rent before the lease is up?

[Johny Lesko]

Hey guys. Is it possible for the landlord in Utah apt complex to raise the rent before the one year lease is up with just a 30 day advance notice to all the tenants? If so what’s the point of signing a lease? Thanks

[Jeremiah Maughan]

Depends on the exact language of the lease.  If the lease is a fixed term, then no, you can't raise the rent until the end of the lease UNLESS your lease has a provision for doing so.  Some leases have built into them provisions whereby the landlord can increase rent in the event property taxes or other services to the property are increased.  There are probably other provisions that can get the same effect, but they would have to be in the lease prior to wanting to raise the rent.