[nerdponx]

> You of course have options

But in pretty much all cases, the renter incurs possibly substantial costs in time, money, and general well-being. So the mere act imposes a cost on the renter, even if the renter never pays the landlord an extra cent. Landlords know this, and if they can estimate those costs, they are able to increase rent freely as long as the present value of the rent increase is still less than the cost of moving and/or getting a lawyer. Employers have the same power, especially in tight labor markets.