How to Write a Rent Increase Letter: A Simple Guide for Small Landlords

Raising the rent is a normal part of owning a rental, but how you tell the tenant matters. A clear, written letter gives the tenant the facts they need, keeps a record for you, and avoids confusion about when the new amount starts.

Check the lease and the law first

• Fixed-term lease: if the tenant is in the middle of a lease term, the rent is usually set by that lease. Many landlords make the change at renewal instead. Read your lease to see what it says.
• Month-to-month: the required notice and method depend on where the property is.
• Local rules: notice periods, rent increase limits, rent control and stabilization rules, and required wording or delivery methods vary by state and city, and they change. Check your state and local law, or ask a qualified attorney, before you send anything.

Good starting points: USAGov's tenant rights page, which points to HUD's state-by-state tenant rights resources (state attorney general and housing agency links, and state tenant handbooks).

What to include

• Date of the letter
• Tenant name(s) and your name (or your management company)
• Property address and unit
• Current monthly rent and new monthly rent
• The date the new rent takes effect
• How and where to pay, if anything changes
• Whether other lease terms stay the same
• How to reach you with questions
• Your signature

Tone

Keep it short, polite and factual. Thank the tenant, state the change and the date, and invite questions. You don't have to explain your reasons, but a brief, honest note (for example, higher taxes or insurance) can help. Avoid anything that reads as a threat, and treat every tenant the same way.

Delivery and proof

• Use the delivery method your lease and local law require. Some places specify how notices must be delivered.
• Keep a copy of the letter, and note the date and how you delivered it.
• If you can, get a signed acknowledgment or keep a delivery receipt.
• Update your rent ledger with the new amount on the effective date.

Sample rent increase letter

Example only. The names are fictional, the address and amounts are placeholders, and the wording may not meet your state or city's requirements. Adapt it to your lease and local law.

Pairing it with a renewal offer

If the lease is ending, many landlords put the new rent into a renewal offer, so the tenant can accept, ask questions or say they won't renew, all on one page. The Lease Renewal Offer form in the Small Landlord Kit PRO lists the new term, start date, new and current monthly rent, deposit change and other changes, with a tenant response section and signature lines.

Related: how to keep a rent ledger and the move-in/out inspection guide, and the lease renewal offer guide for the renewal process and tracking replies.

Not legal advice. This is general information. Notice periods, rent increase limits, rent control rules and delivery requirements vary by state and city and change over time. Check your state and local law or ask a qualified attorney.