Updated April 14, 2023
A rent increase notice is a letter provided by the landlord informing a tenant that the rent in the tenant’s unit will be raised. The letter can only be used to raise the rent for a month-to-month rental agreement. After the notice is received by the tenant, they will have the option to either accept or reject the notice.
When Sending
A certified letter (USPS) constitutes legal notice. After being sent, the landlord will receive a receipt detailing when the tenant received the notice.
Table of Contents |
How to Legally Increase Rent (4 steps)
- Step 1 – Decide the New Rent
- Step 2 – Check Your Agreement
- Step 3 – Check the Required Notice Period
- Step 4 – Write and Send the Form
Step 1 – Decide the New Rent
When deciding the new rent for the tenant it is best to see what the comparables are in the area. This can be sought online through the following websites:
- Rentometer.com – Simply enter the address and the number (#) of bedrooms and be shown the average monthly rent along with real-time asking rents in the area.
- Zillow.com – Enter your address and be shown current properties for rent on a map.
- Craigslist – Select your area > Apts / housing > and enter your mailing address to be shown pictures and maps of the properties with current monthly rent amounts.
After making a thorough search of your area you can make a justified guess on what the property is worth.
Recommended Tip – When viewing other listings in the area, most landlords believe their property is worth more or better than others even if they are not! Therefore, try to make a well-informed determination of the rental market based on the facts!
Step 2 – Check Your Agreement
In most agreements, it should include the notice period for amending the agreement. After finding the required number (#) of days, it is best to check with local laws to ensure it is legal.
Step 3 – Check Your State Notice Period
Make sure that there aren’t any municipal laws that prohibit a landlord from raising the rent by a certain amount. Otherwise, the only duty of the landlord is to give the tenant the State required notice period before the rent may become into effect.
| State | Required Notice Period | Statute |
| Alabama | – | N/A |
| Alaska | 30 days | PUB-30 Page 17 |
| Arizona | – | N/A |
| Arkansas | – | N/A |
| California | 30 days if the rent increase is 10% or less and 90 days if more than 10%. | CIV § 827 |
| Colorado | – | N/A |
| Connecticut | – | N/A |
| Delaware | 60 days | § 5107 |
| Florida | – | N/A |
| Georgia | – | N/A |
| Hawaii | 45 days | § 521-21 |
| Idaho | 15 days | § 55-307 |
| Illinois | – | N/A |
| Indiana | 30 days | IC 32-31-5-4 |
| Iowa | 30 days | § 562A.13 |
| Kansas | As mentioned in the lease | § 58-2545 |
| Kentucky | – | N/A |
| Louisiana | – | N/A |
| Maine | 45 days | § 6015 |
| Maryland | – | N/A |
| Massachusetts | 30 days | The Attorney General’s Guide to Landlord and Tenant Rights |
| Michigan | – | N/A |
| Minnesota | Rental Period + 1 day | Landlords and Tenants Rights and Responsibilities |
| Mississippi | – | N/A |
| Missouri | – | N/A |
| Montana | 15 days | § 70-26-109 |
| Nebraska | As mentioned in the lease | § 76-1414 |
| Nevada | 45 days | NRS 118A.300 |
| New Hampshire | 30 days | RSA 540:2 |
| New Jersey | 30 days | Dept. of Community Affairs (Rent Increase Bulletin) |
| New Mexico | 30 days | § 47-8-15 |
| New York | – | N/A |
| North Carolina | – | N/A |
| North Dakota | 30 days | § 47-16-07 |
| Ohio | – | – |
| Oklahoma | – | – |
| Oregon | 30 days | § 90.220 |
| Pennsylvania | – | N/A |
| Rhode Island | 30 days | § 34-18-16.1 |
| South Carolina | – | N/A |
| South Dakota | 30 days | § 43-32-13 |
| Tennessee | – | N/A |
| Texas | – | N/A |
| Utah | – | N/A |
| Vermont | 60 days | § 4455 |
| Virginia | – | N/A |
| Washington | 60 days | RCW 59.18.140 |
| Washington D.C. | 30 days | Rent Control Fact Sheet |
| West Virginia | – | N/A |
| Wisconsin | 28 days | § 704.19 |
| Wyoming | – | N/A |
Step 4 – Write and Send the Form
After the increase in rent and notice period has been determined, it is time to (see instructions). and send it via certified mail with a return receipt. This will ensure that the tenant will receive the official notice and when the postal service returns the receipt it is very important to keep for your records.
Afterward, the tenant will make an informed decision of whether to agree and pay the new rent amount, make a counter-offer, or choose to move out.
Recommended Tip
To best convince the tenant of the increase, it’s recommended to attach an addendum showing comparables of similar properties. Especially if the rent hasn’t been changed for a long period or if the property is located in a growing area.
This addendum will help the tenant come to terms with the current situation.
How Much Can a Landlord Raise Rent?
There is no maximum federal law that mandates how much rent can be raised.
Although, if the property is located in an area with rent control (such as some municipalities in California), the landlord will be subject to local laws.
Sample – Notice to Raise Rent (Letter)
Notice to Raise Rent
ABC Property Management
100 5th Ave
New York, NY 10022February 1, 2018
Dear Tenant,
This letter, sent on February 1, 2018, marks official notice of our intention to raise the monthly rent from its current rate of $500 per month to $550 beginning on April 1, 2018. If you do not accept the increase in rent under the terms of this notice your current lease will be terminated on April 1, 2018.
Please inform us of your decision by replying to this letter by registered mail or by e-mail at [email protected]
Sincerely,
John Appleseed
Property Manager
Video
How to Write
Download: Adobe PDF, MS Word, OpenDocument
Rent Increase Header
(1) Return Address. Generally, this letter will originate from the Property Owner, Management Company, or Landlord with the authority to collect rent owed by the concerned Tenant. The full name and address of the Property Owner, Management Company, or Landlord as well as the formal mailing address listed for this Party on the lease this letter concerns should be recorded in the area provided.
(2) Document Date. The calendar date this letter should be filed under in both the Tenant’s records as well as that of the Landlord or Property Owner/Management Company will enable a clear reference point in the future. Report this date.
(3) Greeting. Address every Tenant who has signed the lease requiring a rent increase directly by name.
The Concerned Lease
(4) Lease Effective Date. The date when the lease being discussed was signed by the Landlord and Tenant should be recorded as a way to apply this letter to that agreement’s terms and conditions. Be advised, it is essential that this letter is allowed by the lease agreement as well as the statutes upheld by the courts of the state where this property is located. For instance, some municipalities will require a predetermined number of days’ notice be given before a rent increase can be applied to an offered renewal option.
The Proposed Increase
(5) Required Dollar Amount. Record the new rent amount that will be expected as payment. Keep in mind that the amount the rent will increase by cannot exceed that allowed by the lease being amended through this letter.
(6) Payment Due Date. Report the first calendar date when the new increased rent amount will be due from the Tenant(s).
Letter Closing
(7) Signature Of Effect. The Landlord, Property Manager, or Property Owner with the authority to raise the rent expected through this letter must sign his or her name.
(8) Date Of Provided Signature.
