My three year shop rental contract comes up for renewal next month and since the shop was sold in August, I was expecting an increase anyway. The new owner has decided that a handy figure 2.5 x my rent plus 12.5% every 6 months would make me a happy bunny, but he gets the finger for being a dick and not being open to negotiation, so I'm off and will carve out a place in the garage.
This kind of greed is all too common here, not to mention the heinous utility bill increases, so rather than burn the notes that I earn, I'd rather keep them in my pocket. My customers will follow me, as they have already assured me.