Sadly, the increase is just being passed to the tenant as everything has gone up. Friend of mine has some utilities included units. Between the price hike for utilities and property tax increase, after expenses, they are making less today than they were 2 years ago and will need to raise the rents as leases expire. They may be currently operating at a loss after all the bills are paid.

During Covid some tenants did not pay rent, but landlord still had to pay the utilities and mortgage. I am thinking some of the increases are to offset this loss.

I agree that there is a problem, as everything has gone up double digits, except people's income. I see both sides of the rent increase.