<prompt> Human: My mom rents a place in New Jersey for 1,800 per month, and just recently got a note in the mail that her rent is increasing to 2,200 per month. This is a land lord that has yet to fix water damage in her ceiling beyond a corrugated patch over a caved-in hole in the living room and has put a lock box over her thermostat even though she pays for utilities. What is the best way for her to handle this landlord? She is in her 60s and resistant to moving. We do not live together.  <response>: If her lease is up in March and they are saying the rent will increase March 1, then Im pretty sure its legal. They are giving her notice so she can find another place with lower rent if she wants. Might be a good move anyway considering how useless the landlord sounds. 