We received a letter from our landlord few days back, and they are asking a 50% increase over our monthly rent starting from Feb 07. We ignored the letter because we are planning to move out anyways.

But my poor lovely neightbours from Pakistan (the ones that cook me yummy meals sometimes :)))) received the same letter and were totally gutted. They called the agency and complaint that it was illegal and begged them to keep the same rent. They wouldn't so my neighbour threatened to bring them to court. So they said something along the lines of ..., ok, do what you want, but if you don't pay what we are asking you will have to vacant the flat...

the name of the Agency is AL ASHMACK real estate.