Long story short, we moved into this appt 5 years ago. We paid first, last, dog deposit, and security deposit. 3 years ago owner sold to someone. They kept us all (4 apartments, small place) and agreed to just extend at our current rates. We were told our deposits were still there and applied to the new owners. We extended the lease last year and they had a deposit listed, but said it wasn't necessary to pay due to already having paid it.

Last month they informed us rent was going up due to rent in the area going up. Today I got the papers and they're asking for another deposit, which I have yet to take to them, but I'm assuming they may require this one to be paid since the rent was raised and I heard that's something that's sometimes done. They're also listing an additional cleaning fee at move out.

My questions are this:

If I paid first and last to the original owner, and they negotiated for rent and deposits to remain the same upon selling, how does that effect raised rent? Is my last month still paid for? Will I have to pay additional fees as the rent has gone up? Can they say it's no longer paid for?

If they request an additional deposit, do I need to request my old deposit back? Or is that gone? Or are they going to give that plus the additional deposit back? Rent is going up less than $100, yet the deposit they're requesting to be paid is $225. So I'm not sure if I'm supposed to request my old deposit back, if it's just gone, or if they're going to be giving me close to $600 back when we move out in returned deposit should we have to pay this new $225 deposit.

They're also stipulating we are responsible for the grounds keeping in front of our apartments, which we have a streetside apartment and prople leave trash out there. As well as there is no border between the "yards" out front. So if my neighbor decides to leave trash or weeds or whatever ends up in our yard from the street, they can charge us for that and claim its part of our yard since it's shared?

One final question. We pay on the 10th,we have paid on the 10th since they took over. They know we can't pay before that since we negotiated the 10th with them to begin with. Now this lease states we are due on the 1st. After 3 days there is a $30 late fee. After it's $5 a day. So to continue paying on the earliest date we can pay it's an extra $65. Am I right in assuming that's them saying they want us out?

Thanks for the help