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Notice of Rent Increase
Date delivered:
To:
Rental address:
This letter is written notice that your monthly rent will change from to , starting .
Please pay the new amount for every rent payment due on or after that date. All other terms of your rental agreement stay the same.
If you have questions, contact me at .
Rent increase notice rules by state
| State | Advance notice of an increase | Rent cap | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 30 days for an increase of 10% or less in 12 months; 90 days above 10% (month-to-month tenancies) | Tenant Protection Act, covered properties: 5% plus cost of living or 10%, whichever is lower; repealed January 1, 2030 | Civil Code § 827; § 1947.12 |
| Washington | 90 days, on the RCW 59.18.720 form; not before the lease term ends | 7% plus CPI or 10%, whichever is less; none in the first 12 months; expires July 1, 2040 | RCW 59.18.140, 59.18.700 |
| New York | 30, 60 or 90 days by time in the unit, for an increase of 5% or more | None statewide; under Good Cause Eviction (NYC and opt-in towns), above 5% plus CPI or 10% is presumed unreasonable | Real Prop. Law § 226-c; § 216 |
| Virginia | 60 days before the term ends, for owners of more than 4 units with renewing leases; 90 days from July 1, 2027 | See the statute | Va. Code § 55.1-1204(K) |
| New Jersey | No set number of days; a notice to quit and notice of the increase, which must not be unconscionable | None statewide; local ordinances may apply | N.J.S.A. 2A:18-61.1(f) |
| Arizona | No statute | None; cities may not control rents | A.R.S. § 33-1329 |
| Florida | No statute | None; state law preempts local landlord-tenant rules | Fla. Stat. § 83.425 |
| Michigan | No statute | None; local rent control prohibited | MCL 123.411 |
| North Carolina | No statute | None; local rent regulation preempted | Gen. Stat. § 42-14.1 |
| Ohio | No statute | None; local rent control and stabilization barred | Rev. Code § 5321.19 |
| Pennsylvania | None set in the Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951; follow your lease | None in the Act | Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951 |
| Texas | No statute | None; cities only in a disaster emergency with the governor's approval | Local Gov't Code § 214.902 |
From each state's official statute text, read October 29, 2026. Many cities have their own rent and notice rules, except where state law preempts them. Not legal advice.
Example: in California, raising a month-to-month rent from $2,000 to $2,150 (7.5%) needs 30 days' notice, so a letter handed to the tenant on November 1 can start the new rent December 1. Raising it to $2,250 (12.5%) needs 90 days, and is also above the 10% ceiling of the Tenant Protection Act if the property is covered.
How to write a rent increase letter
- State the current rent, the new rent and the date the new rent starts.
- Give at least the notice your state requires before the new rent starts. Delivering it by hand is clearest; if you mail it, allow extra time (California adds time under Code of Civil Procedure § 1013).
- Say that the other terms of the rental agreement stay the same.
- Keep a copy and a record of how and when you delivered it.
During a fixed-term lease
California's notice rule covers month-to-month and shorter tenancies; New York's covers renewal offers with an increase of 5% or more. Washington's statute says expressly that an increase cannot take effect before the rental agreement term ends. If the tenant has a lease, check its terms before you raise the rent mid-term. To end a month-to-month tenancy instead, see the notice to vacate template.
Washington needs its own form
Washington's notice must follow the form in RCW 59.18.720 and give at least 90 days. The letter above is not that form, so the tool shows the rules but no letter when you pick Washington.
Renewing a lease at a new rent? Use the lease renewal letter and extension agreement.
Frequently asked questions
How much notice does a landlord need to give for a rent increase?
It depends on the state. California requires 30 days for an increase of 10% or less in 12 months and 90 days above that; Washington 90 days; New York 30, 60 or 90 days for an increase of 5% or more, depending on how long the tenant has been there. Arizona, Florida, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Texas have no statute setting a notice period.
How much can a landlord raise the rent?
Only a few states cap it. California's Tenant Protection Act limits covered properties to 5% plus the change in the cost of living, or 10%, whichever is lower, in 12 months. Washington limits increases to 7% plus CPI or 10%, whichever is less, with none in the first 12 months.
What should a rent increase letter include?
The tenant's name and address, the current and new rent, the date the new rent starts, the date you delivered the letter, a statement that other terms stay the same, and your signature.
Can a landlord raise rent during a lease?
Check the lease. Washington's statute says an increase cannot take effect before the rental agreement term ends, California's notice rule covers month-to-month tenancies, and New York's covers renewal offers.