General information, not legal advice. This template is a starting point. Laws differ by state and city, so have a licensed attorney review your final document before you use it.
Last reviewed
The short version
- A rent increase only takes effect when the lease allows it: at renewal for fixed terms, with notice for month to month.
- Your state sets the minimum notice, and some states and cities cap how much rent can rise.
- Use this letter to explain the change. Where a formal notice is required, serve the notice too.
- Keep proof of when and how the letter was delivered.
What a rent increase letter is
A rent increase letter tells a tenant that their rent is changing, by how much and from what date. It is the human side of a rent change: it explains the reason, confirms that nothing else changes and gives the tenant someone to call. In many places a letter that includes the required details also serves as the legal notice. Where the law asks for more, pair it with a formal notice of rent increase.
When to use it
Use it for a month to month tenancy when you want to change the rent, or ahead of a renewal when the new term will carry a higher rent. Send it early enough to meet your state’s notice period, counting from the date the tenant actually receives it.
How to use the template
- Check the notice period and any rent cap that applies where the property is located.
- Confirm the lease allows the change on the date you have in mind.
- Fill in the current rent, the new rent, the change and the percent.
- Add a short, honest reason.
- Deliver it in a way you can prove and fill in the delivery record.
What to include
- Tenant names and the property address.
- Current rent, new rent and the effective date.
- A statement that other lease terms stay the same.
- A contact for questions.
- The state notice rule and any cap you checked.
Tips
- Give more notice than the minimum. Tenants who have time to plan are more likely to stay.
- Compare with the market. An increase that keeps the rent near market keeps the unit filled.
- Remind autopay users to update their amount, or update scheduled payments for them.
Common mistakes
- Too little notice, which makes the increase invalid until proper notice runs.
- Ignoring local caps in rent controlled cities.
- Raising rent after a complaint, which can look like retaliation.
- Changing other terms quietly in the same letter.
Rent changes in TenantLoop
Messages and notices you send from TenantLoop stay on the tenant record, so you can show what was sent and when. Tenants pay from their portal by card or bank transfer, and each payment posts to the tenant ledger at the amount billed.
What is in the template
A friendly letter that tells a tenant the rent is going up, by how much and from what date, with the reason and a contact for questions. Pair it with the formal notice where your state requires one.
- Delivery record
Read the whole rent increase letter template
Get the file
Free, no sign up. Fill it in by hand or edit the Word file.
General template, not legal advice. Have an attorney in your state review before use.
Using this template. Have a local attorney check it.
How much notice do I need to give for a rent increase?
It depends on the state and sometimes on the size of the increase or the length of the tenancy. Thirty days is common for month to month tenancies, and many states require more for larger increases or longer tenancies.
Can I raise the rent in the middle of a lease?
Generally no, unless the lease itself allows a mid-term increase. Otherwise wait until renewal.
Is there a limit on how much I can raise rent?
A few states have statewide caps, and many cities have rent control or stabilization rules. Outside those areas there is usually no cap, but very large increases can raise fair housing and retaliation questions.
Do I have to give a reason?
Usually not by law, though some rent control rules require one. A short honest reason, such as higher taxes or insurance, makes the news easier to accept.