Landlord Filed Late for 2024 Rent Increase & Missed 2025 Deadline Too – What Can I Do?

Hey everyone,

I’m dealing with an ongoing rent dispute with my landlord, and I need advice. They missed the TAL filing deadline for my 2024 rent increase, then tried to base my 2025 increase on that disputed amount—AND they’ve now missed the 2025 filing deadline too.

Timeline of Events:

2024 Rent Increase Dispute (Still Pending at TAL) • January 2, 2024 – My landlord sent me a lease renewal notice with a rent increase. • January 7, 2024 – I formally refused the increase within the legal 30-day window. • The landlord had until March 7, 2024, to file with TAL. • They missed the deadline. • April 11, 2024 – Over one month late, they finally filed a rent fixation request with TAL. • Their excuse? They claim we were “negotiating via email” and they preferred to reach an agreement instead of filing on time. • TAL has now scheduled a hearing for April 1, 2025, to decide on the 2024 increase. • The landlord is asking TAL to “relieve them of the consequences” of their late filing.

2025 Rent Increase (Based on Disputed 2024 Amount) • This year, my landlord sent me a lease renewal notice with a 2025 rent increase. • The increase was based on the disputed 2024 rent amount, even though TAL has not yet ruled on the 2024 case. • I refused the 2025 increase, since it’s based on a rent they were never officially allowed to charge in the first place. • Just like in 2024, they had one month after my refusal to file with TAL. • They missed the deadline again. They never filed within the legal timeframe, meaning the 2025 increase is also unenforceable.

My Questions: 1. Since the landlord missed the TAL filing deadlines for both 2024 and 2025, does that mean my rent should legally remain unchanged? 2. Can TAL still allow the 2024 increase, even though they filed over a month late? 3. How strict is TAL when it comes to landlords missing filing deadlines? 4. Can a landlord legally base a rent increase (2025) on a previous year’s increase that TAL hasn’t even approved? 5. What should I prepare for my TAL hearing to argue that they should NOT be “relieved of the consequences” of missing the 2024 deadline? 6. Since they missed the 2025 filing deadline too, should I notify TAL or take any action to ensure it’s dismissed? 7. Has anyone been in a situation where a landlord kept missing TAL deadlines and still got an increase approved?

It feels like my landlord is just ignoring the proper legal process and hoping I won’t challenge it. Any advice or similar experiences would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance