Us landlords are getting slaughtered by increases in costs, the same as anyone else...and yes, drywall and pretty much everything else are through the roof due to inflation.
When a property is sold, one of the very first things the new owners do is raise the rent. In a stable market, almost no one will move due to a 10% increase. This has been the case for basically forever.
In today’s market, costs across the board are through the roof. Literally everything is more expensive. Your current rent seems to me to be on the low side, but I don’t have insight into the local market. Best to start researching yourself to figure out what the going rates are and use that to determine your course of action. Hiring a lawyer will likely only cost you money since rent controls in Alabama are rare and they are raising it for the next lease cycle. You may find out that the 45% increase is right in line and you were below market previously.
I know this won’t help you, but
My daughter just bought a condo in June.
Somehow, the place missed their insurance payments or something and told the condo owners last week that their HOA dues are now quadrupling - come February 2.
So now, instead of $160 per month on top of her mortgage, it’s been upped to around $650 per month - just HOA dues!
She called her real estate agent and listed the place the day after that meeting. She was heartbroken; it was her first ‘place’ of her own since college and she’s gonna lose about $20k on it.
But nobody seems to know the legality of the whole mess.
Anyway, good luck to you. However, I WOULD suggest moving. En masse. Leave them with an empty building - making $0 for their actions.
Move or get a second job. I rent. If my lease goes up 45% I am out of there.
As of November 2023, the average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in University of North Alabama, AL is $550. This is a 4% decrease compared to the previous year. - https://www.zumper.com/rent-research/near-university-of-north-alabama-al
The average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in North Shore Community College, MA is $2,402. This is a 7% increase compared to the previous ... - https://www.zumper.com/apartments-for-rent/near-north-shore-community-college-ma
Stop paying rent, hide your money somewhere. Make them throw you out - usually takes months or years.
I have read that Alabama landlords cannot raise your rent in the middle of the lease term. They have to wait until a renewal.