This is not the experience of most Americans. In fact, if these numbers are accurate for you I might suggest you employ a financial planner to help find alternatives.
Houston, March 2019, my rent renewal was $1500/mo for a 12-month lease or $1500/mo for month-to-month or a new contract. Houston, October 2020, my rent renewal was $1500 for a 15-month lease or $2100/month for month-to-month or a new contract.
> Houston, March 2019, my rent renewal was $1500/mo for a 12-month lease or $1500/mo for month-to-month or a new contract. Houston, October 2020, my rent renewal was $1500 for a 15-month lease or $2100/month for month-to-month or a new contract.
Is there a typo here? You have to sign a longer lease but you are paying the same per month... that's a 0% increase.
And as for month-to-month, paying zero premium for a month-to-month lease is abnormal in pretty much every market...
But this isn't even the most confusing part of this thread. The most confusing is your next comment in the context of your concern about inflation.
> Signing a longer lease demonstrates that the new lease isn't like the old.
Okay. But if you earnestly believed what you're saying about inflation then locking in 2019 prices for 15 months instead of 12 months would be a GOOD thing for you! You'd be locking in a fixed price for a longer duration during a period of high inflation. I've signed a three year residential lease in markets with high housing inflation and felt like I was getting away with murder (and I was under-paying by about 500/mo toward the end of that lease). If you expect inflation, then you want longer leases at fixed-in prices!!!
The price per month of your housing has increased ZERO percent, AND your landlord is betting AGAINST rent inflation in their market.
So the rent didn't go up, the longer lease term was made longer and it was only the month to month that went up in price. The comparison is one you started making and only complain about when people call you on your made up numbers.
1. There's a giant difference between 80% and 30%.
2. That's not reflective of the rental market in Houston (I'm from there and going back for a graduation tomorrow), that's reflective of your landlord charging you for the convenience of not moving.
No it isn't. My rent is up 80% since two years ago. Food costs are up 40%. Healthcare is up 200%. Good news though: fuel costs are about the same!