Rent Increases: Your Top 5 Questions Answered
By Adeeva Fritz
Mar 17, 2022
When the real estate market is tight and rent prices are through the roof, the last thing a renter wants to get is a rent increase letter. But it happens—and depending on where you live and the timing of the rent increase, it may be completely within a landlord or property manager’s rights to raise your rent. In this article, we’ll answer the 5 rent increase questions on every renter's mind:
1. Can my landlord raise my rent?
2. How much notice for rent increase?
3. When can’t my landlord raise my rent?
4. How much can my landlord raise my rent?
5. Can you negotiate rent?
1. Can my landlord raise my rent?
Unfortunately, unless you live in a municipality with rent control, the answer to the question of can your landlord increase your rent is generally—ugh—yes. While no renter wants to see their monthly rent go up, the good news is that your landlord can’t raise your rent any time they like. They must wait until your lease ends before putting a rent increase into effect.
2. How much notice for rent increase?
In most states, a notice of a rent increase must be provided in writing, and rent increases cannot start until your lease is up (unless otherwise noted in the rental agreement).
In the case of a year lease, this means that renters can expect their monthly rent to remain the same for the duration of the lease. However, you should not be surprised to receive written notice of a rent hike as the end of the lease approaches, usually with a 30 to 60-day notice.
When it comes to a month-to-month lease, the only advance notice a landlord or property manager is required to give a tenant is a 30-day notice.
3. When can’t my landlord raise my rent?
In municipalities protected by rent control laws, landlords are subject to restrictions on how much they can raise rent (if at all). It's important to note that renter laws vary from state to state, and even city to city.
However, regardless of your location, tenant rights include protection from discrimination. It is illegal for your rent to be increased as a form of discrimination or retaliation. If you feel that your rent increase violates your tenant rights outlined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, it’s best to consult a real estate lawyer for legal advice.
4. How much can my landlord raise my rent?
In most areas without rent control laws, when your lease is up, your landlord can increase your rent as much as they like. However, landlords know that if they raise rent to a level that significantly exceeds the market value of an apartment, they won’t only lose their current tenant, but they’ll have a hard time attracting a new one.
In a stable real estate market, renters can typically count on rent increases somewhere in the ballpark of 2% to 5%. But when market conditions vary, like, say during the Covid-19 pandemic, that’s when renters can experience big rent price fluctuations from one lease term to the next.
If your lease renewal includes a rent increase, one thing to keep in mind is that a rent increase can impact the amount you owe for your security deposit. In other words, if your monthly rent goes up, your security deposit goes up with it.
5. Can you negotiate rent?
While many renters don’t realize they can negotiate rent, it is possible. But, that doesn’t mean it will be easy. The truth is that in a competitive real estate market, negotiating rent can be difficult. That being said, it’s always worth a try.
Examples of how to convince your landlord not to increase your rent include making your case politely, using market comps to support your reasoning, offering to pay more upfront, committing to a longer lease, and more. In fact, we’ve written an article full of tips and advice on How to Negotiate Rent.
The Bottom Line
In rental markets where rent control laws don’t prevent landlords and property managers from increasing your rent, you're likely to find notice of a rent hike in your mailbox as your lease nears its end. The only question is what to do about it. First things first, negotiate. If that fails, you have a choice to make: pay up or move out. As you consider whether you can afford the rent increase, be sure to take into account the expense of moving or whether adding a roommate to your lease could help cover the cost of the higher monthly rent.
Find the best deal
We rate and sort every listing based on fair market rent.
We rate and sort every listing based on fair market rent.
Top metro areas
Atlanta Apartments
497 apartments starting at $700/month
Austin Apartments
789 apartments starting at $649/month
Baltimore Apartments
446 apartments starting at $150/month
Birmingham Apartments
149 apartments starting at $545/month
Boston Apartments
3,209 apartments starting at $150/month
Buffalo Apartments
73 apartments starting at $150/month
Charlotte Apartments
596 apartments starting at $395/month
Chicago Apartments
4,386 apartments starting at $400/month
Cincinnati Apartments
243 apartments starting at $150/month
Cleveland Apartments
304 apartments starting at $432/month
Columbus Apartments
744 apartments starting at $400/month
Dallas Apartments
854 apartments starting at $575/month
Denver Apartments
598 apartments starting at $150/month
Detroit Apartments
322 apartments starting at $300/month
Grand Rapids Apartments
136 apartments starting at $500/month
Hartford Apartments
90 apartments starting at $775/month
Houston Apartments
682 apartments starting at $150/month
Indianapolis Apartments
438 apartments starting at $150/month
Jacksonville Apartments
839 apartments starting at $400/month
Kansas City Apartments
407 apartments starting at $400/month
Las Vegas Apartments
624 apartments starting at $745/month
Los Angeles Apartments
2,478 apartments starting at $150/month
Louisville Apartments
209 apartments starting at $540/month
Memphis Apartments
540 apartments starting at $450/month
Miami Apartments
178 apartments starting at $950/month
Milwaukee Apartments
382 apartments starting at $150/month
Minneapolis Apartments
537 apartments starting at $700/month
Nashville Apartments
380 apartments starting at $150/month
New Orleans Apartments
202 apartments starting at $775/month
New York City Apartments
2,265 apartments starting at $850/month
Oklahoma City Apartments
434 apartments starting at $500/month
Orlando Apartments
222 apartments starting at $1,100/month
Philadelphia Apartments
1,472 apartments starting at $350/month
Phoenix Apartments
983 apartments starting at $679/month
Pittsburgh Apartments
542 apartments starting at $150/month
Portland Apartments
478 apartments starting at $150/month
Providence Apartments
90 apartments starting at $700/month
Raleigh Apartments
251 apartments starting at $425/month
Richmond Apartments
275 apartments starting at $300/month
Riverside Apartments
67 apartments starting at $150/month
Sacramento Apartments
162 apartments starting at $995/month
Salt Lake City Apartments
157 apartments starting at $810/month
San Antonio Apartments
443 apartments starting at $400/month
San Diego Apartments
474 apartments starting at $150/month
San Francisco Apartments
635 apartments starting at $150/month
San Jose Apartments
160 apartments starting at $1,045/month
Seattle Apartments
631 apartments starting at $150/month
St. Louis Apartments
292 apartments starting at $150/month
Tampa Apartments
303 apartments starting at $795/month
Virginia Beach Apartments
104 apartments starting at $1,050/month
Washington DC Apartments
552 apartments starting at $150/month