Attorney General Chris Koster has stopped a Joplin landlord from allegedly price gouging and taking advantage of renters in the aftermath of the May 22nd tornado. He says David Box Jr rents out apartments in two different buildings, and told renters that their monthly payments would go up, and if they refused to pay it, he would rent to someone else. Koster says his office got complaints from 13 different renters, some whose rent was going to raise from $475 to $595 a month. Koster says Box can not charge excessive fees in the wake of a disaster, or give less than a month’s notice in raising rent. Box had to pay a 5 thousand dollar fine and apologize to his tenants.
