Rent Reeve — Rent increases and rent collection rules | rentreeve.com
Most of the country has no statewide rent ceiling, so the cap that matters is the local one — commonly 3-10% over 12 months where it exists at all.
Start with the state layer. The majority of US states set no statewide limit on rent increases, which means that at renewal a landlord may propose any figure the market supports. A smaller number of states allow or host local rent control, and that is where the binding ceilings live.
Where a city or county does cap increases, the permitted rise commonly falls between 3% and 10% over a 12-month period. Some ordinances fix a single percentage; many more index the cap to the consumer price index, so the number breathes with inflation.
The indexed caps are the ones that catch people out. Because the permitted percentage changes as CPI changes, a figure that was lawful last year may be unlawful this year, and the current local rate must be re-checked every time an increase is planned — these rates change frequently.
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Even in uncapped territory, size triggers procedure. California ties the notice period to the scale of the increase: 10% or less within 12 months requires 30 days' written notice, and anything above 10% requires 90 days under Civil Code section 827. The cap question and the notice question are separate checks — see Giving Notice of a Rent Increase for the day count.
One more limit applies everywhere regardless of caps: an increase normally cannot take effect more than once in any 12-month lease term without the tenant's written agreement. A landlord who raised the rent eight months ago cannot raise it again at month ten unless the tenant agrees in writing.
Once the ceiling is known, the adjacent money rules matter too: late fees and deposits carry their own caps, covered in Late Fees, Grace Periods and Deposits.
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