Its because your landlord and the real estate company who owns your property wants more money.
My power company, SCE&G in Charleston, SC, is a private company which basically has a monopoly on the metro area. They've raised rates about 5 times in 3 years. And they just set a HUGE record for profits.
Because they wanted more money.
For all you folks who ***** and whine about the government wanting more of your money......at least there is a body of elected persons who can approve or deny tax increases.
Private companies? We are at their mercy. Many services and goods sold by private companies may be "voluntary" by the legal term, but basically we must buy their stuff to function in society, like housing, rent, power, water, and yes, phone service, and many of these services are offered by massive companies with a monopoly, like my power company, or Comcast who has a strangle hold on this area.
And no one seems to ***** about greedy CEO's who jack up rates and prices on a good or service that we practically cant live without.