Rent Increase Letter Template (Free)
A rent increase letter gives your tenant written notice of the new rent and the date it starts, and this free template covers both, plus a proof-of-delivery section. In most states a month-to-month tenant needs at least one full rental period of notice, while Oregon and Washington require 90 days. For a fixed-term lease, the increase waits for the renewal under your free lease agreement template.
By LandlordTested editorial teamLast reviewed
Rent Increase Letter
Free to use and edit. To get a Word or Google Docs copy, print to PDF or copy the text into a new document.
Notice of rent increase
Date of this notice: ______________
To (all tenants named on the lease): ______________________________________________
Rental property address: ______________________________________________
Unit: __________
Dear ______________________________,
This letter is written notice that the monthly rent for the property above will change as follows.
Current monthly rent: $ __________
New monthly rent: $ __________
Amount of increase: $ __________ per month ( __________ % )
The new rent takes effect on: ______________ (the first rent due date on or after the end of the required notice period under [STATE] and local law, and not before your current lease term ends if you have a fixed-term lease)
The new rent is first due on: ______________
What changes and what stays the same
All other terms of your lease or rental agreement stay the same unless listed here:
- No other changes
- Other changes (describe): ______________________________________________
Where to pay: [ ] Same as now [ ] New method: ______________________________
Reason for the increase (optional)
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
Legal notices
This notice is given at least [NUMBER OF DAYS] days before the effective date, as required by [STATE] law and any local ordinance that applies to this property.
[IF YOUR STATE OR CITY LIMITS RENT INCREASES: State that this increase complies with the applicable cap, or that the property is exempt, and include any notice language the law requires.]
If you have questions about this notice, contact me at the phone number or email below.
Sincerely,
Landlord or agent name: ______________________________________________
Signature: ______________________________ Date: ______________
Mailing address: ______________________________________________
Phone: ______________________ Email: ______________________________
Proof of delivery
This notice was delivered on ______________ by:
- Hand delivery to: ______________________
- First-class mail
- Certified mail (tracking number: ______________________ )
- Email or tenant portal, if the lease allows notices this way
- Other method allowed by [STATE] law: ______________________
Delivered by: ______________________________ Signature: ______________________________
This template is general information, not legal advice. Check your state’s rules before using it.
On this page
How to fill in the rent increase letter
Date, tenants and property
Date the letter the day you deliver it. Address it to every adult named on the lease, not only the person who usually pays. Include the unit number.
Current rent, new rent and the change
Fill in both amounts, then the increase in dollars and as a percent. On a $1,650 rent, a 5% increase is $82.50, so the new rent is $1,732.50. Showing the percent helps if you’re in a state with a cap, and it saves the tenant from doing the math.
Effective date
This is the blank landlords most often get wrong. Count the required notice period forward from the day the tenant receives the letter, then pick the first rent due date after that. If you mail it, add a few days for delivery, or follow your state’s rule on how mailing extends notice. On a fixed-term lease, the date can’t fall before the lease ends.
Other changes and payment method
If anything else changes (a new utility charge, a new pet rent), list it. Otherwise tick “No other changes” so the tenant knows the rest of the lease stands.
Legal notices
Replace [NUMBER OF DAYS] and [STATE] with your actual notice period and state. If your unit is covered by a rent cap, say that the increase complies. If you claim an exemption, say which one.
Proof of delivery
Fill this in on your copy. Certified mail gives you a tracking record; hand delivery works if you note the date and who received it. Email or a tenant portal only counts if your lease allows notices that way.
State rules for a rent increase letter
Most states leave the amount to you and set only a notice period. The exceptions:
| State | Cap on annual increases | Notice |
|---|---|---|
| California | 5% + regional CPI, max 10% (AB 1482, Cal. Civ. Code § 1947.12) | Check state and local rules |
| Oregon | 7% + CPI, max 10% (2026 cap: 9.5%), one increase per 12 months (ORS 90.323) | 90 days |
| Washington | Lesser of 7% + CPI or 10% (2026 cap: 9.683%) | 90 days |
| New York | Good Cause: above 5% + CPI (max 10%) presumed unreasonable in NYC and opt-in towns | 30, 60 or 90 days for increases of 5% or more |
California’s cap exempts buildings under 15 years old, owner-occupied duplexes, and single-family homes and condos owned by individuals, but only if the lease includes the required exemption notice. Cities such as Los Angeles, San Francisco and Oakland have stricter local rules. New York’s Good Cause law exempts landlords with 10 or fewer units, owner-occupied buildings of 10 or fewer units, and newer construction. Oregon’s cap exempts units first occupied less than 15 years ago, and Portland requires relocation assistance for increases of 10% or more.
Elsewhere, watch local rules. Chicago and Cook County require 60 days’ notice for tenants of 6 months to 3 years and 120 days for 3 years or more. Montgomery County, Maryland, limits increases to CPI plus 3%, max 6%. More than 100 New Jersey towns have local rent control. Arizona requires at least 30 days’ notice for month-to-month tenants.
Mistakes to avoid
- Counting notice from the date you wrote the letter. Count from when the tenant receives it.
- Raising rent mid-lease. Unless the lease allows it, wait for the renewal.
- Rounding past a cap. In a capped state, 10.1% is over the limit. Do the math to the cent.
- Raising rent right after a complaint. An increase that follows a repair request or a code complaint can look like retaliation, which most states prohibit.
- No copy. Keep the signed letter and your proof of delivery with the lease.
Questions landlords ask
The questions we get most, each answered in a paragraph.
How much notice do I need to give for a rent increase?
It depends on your state, your city and the type of tenancy. For a month-to-month tenant, at least one full rental period is the common minimum. Oregon and Washington require 90 days. In New York, an increase of 5% or more needs 30, 60 or 90 days' notice depending on how long the tenant has lived there. Chicago and Cook County require 60 or 120 days for longer tenancies.
Can I raise the rent in the middle of a lease?
Not usually. A fixed-term lease locks the rent until the term ends unless the lease itself says the rent can change during the term. Send the increase as part of your renewal offer instead, timed so the notice period runs out by the lease end date.
Is there a limit on how much I can raise the rent?
In most states there's no statewide cap. California, Oregon and Washington have statewide caps for covered units, New York's Good Cause Eviction Law limits increases in New York City and opt-in towns, and many local governments in New Jersey, Maryland and California have local rent control. Many other states, including Texas, Florida and Georgia, bar cities from enacting rent control at all.
Do I have to give a reason for a rent increase?
Generally no, and the reason line on this template is optional. A short, honest explanation (higher property taxes, a new insurance premium) can keep a good tenant. The increase can't be retaliation for a repair request or complaint, or target a tenant because of a protected characteristic.