Free tool
Rent Increase Calculator
Calculate the new rent after an increase — then check it against your state's cap, see how much written notice is required, and find the earliest date the new rent can take effect. Useful whether you're the landlord setting the increase or the tenant checking it.
The increase
California's cap is 5% + local CPI, capped at 10% per year. CPI is republished every year, so enter the current figure for your region rather than relying on a number baked into a calculator.
New monthly rent
$1,890.00
+$90.00 (5.0%)
- Current rent
- $1,800.00
- Extra per year
- $1,080.00
Notice required
30 days
Add the notice date to see when the new rent can start.
What actually limits a rent increase
Three things decide whether an increase is allowed: the lease (rent normally can't change mid-term), notice (a written notice period, usually at least 30 days), and any cap that applies where the property is. Most calculators only do the arithmetic and stop there — the percentage is the easy part, and it's the notice and cap rules that decide whether the increase actually sticks.
Statewide caps are rarer than people assume. Oregon and California are the two states with one, and both express it as a formula tied to local CPI rather than a flat number, which is why this tool asks you for the current CPI instead of burying a figure that goes stale within a year. Everywhere else, the limit comes from local rent control if your city has it — so a "no statewide cap" answer is not the same as "no limit".
Looking at the wider picture for your state? The state-by-state rental law guide covers deposits, deadlines, and penalties, and the prorated rent calculator handles the partial month when an increase lands mid-cycle.
This tool provides general information and estimates, not legal advice, and Landlord Tools is not a law firm. Rent-increase rules vary by state and by city and change over time — confirm the current rules for your location, or consult a licensed attorney or your local housing authority, before relying on any result.
Rent increase FAQ
How much can a landlord raise the rent?
In most states there is no statewide cap: at the end of a lease term a landlord can raise the rent by any amount, provided proper written notice is given and the increase is not retaliatory or discriminatory. Only Oregon and California have statewide caps, and a number of cities impose local rent control even where the state does not.
How much notice does a landlord have to give before raising rent?
Most states require at least 30 days' written notice for a month-to-month tenancy. Some require more for larger increases — California, for example, requires 90 days when the increase is more than 10%, and Oregon requires 90 days. Rent generally cannot be raised mid-lease unless the lease itself allows it.
Can a landlord raise rent in the middle of a lease?
Generally no. A fixed-term lease locks the rent for its duration, so an increase normally takes effect at renewal or during a month-to-month tenancy. The exception is a lease that expressly permits a mid-term adjustment.
What can I do if a rent increase seems illegal?
Check whether your state or city caps increases, whether the required notice period was honored, and whether the increase followed a complaint or repair request (which may make it retaliatory). If something looks wrong, your local housing authority or a tenant-rights organization is the right place to start.