New Owner Is Attempting To Charge A Pet Fee In The Middle Of My Lease

Location: Tennessee, USA

Hi all, I just wanna make sure I’m not crazy. A new company had taken over the apartments I live at and we did not have a pet fee with the previous company as we had been there so long. We paid a flat fee during covid with the first company.

The new one had emailed us about not paying a pet fee and we emailed back saying it was not stated anywhere in our lease. Yesterday my mother and I paid rent and it was tacked on. She went ahead and paid as she is too sick to argue but this morning I went down to the office to speak with someone about it. She said she would speak to the owner about it but that he was the one who told her to add it.

Am I crazy? They can’t just add a pet fee in the middle of my lease right? I know $50 isn’t technically a lot but it’s more about the fact they’re seemingly insisting.