eForms Logo

Rent Increase Notice Letter

Create a high quality document now!

Rent Increase Notice Letter

Updated October 25, 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)

  1. Decide the New Rent
  2. Check Your Agreement
  3. Check the Required Notice Period
  4. Write and Send the Form

1. Decide the New Rent

landlord using tablet to research rent increaseWhen 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!

2. Check Your Agreement

landlord meeting with tenant couple to review original agreementIn 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.

3. Check the Required Notice Period

landlord reviewing state laws for rent increaseMake 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.

Required Notice Period

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 for less than 10% increase; 75 days for 10% increase or more § 6015
 Maryland 90 days for year lease; 60 days for month-to-month § 8-209
 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

4. Write and Send the Form

tenant sending rent increase counteroffer to landlord via mailAfter 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 10022

February 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 john@abcproperty.com

Sincerely,

John Appleseed

Property Manager