Rent Increases

If you are a tenant in a property and do not have a written lease, or if you are on a month to month lease that does not mention rent increases, and if you do not live in a rent-controlled city, then generally your landlord can raise your rent as much as the market will bear, although some cities do cap this amount.

If you have a written lease that states how long you will live in the property and at what price (12 months at $700 a month, for example), then the landlord is bound by that contract and cannot raise the rent until the lease expires.

If you do not have a written lease and your landlord decides to raise your rent, in most states he must give you 30 days notice of the increase.  This gives you time to move out and find another place to live if necessary.

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