Leases and deposits
Can my landlord raise the rent in the middle of my lease?
Updated By the Housing Rocket moderators
Short answer
Usually not. During a fixed-term lease, such as a 12-month lease, the rent is generally locked for the whole term unless the lease itself allows increases. If you rent month to month, the landlord can usually raise the rent with proper written notice, and the required notice period depends on your state.
Read your lease for any clause that lets the rent change during the term. Some leases include scheduled increases, pass-through charges for utilities or trash, or fees that can change. Those only apply if they are in the lease you signed, and some states or cities restrict them.
If your landlord announces a mid-lease increase with no clause to support it, reply politely in writing, point to the rent amount and end date in your lease, and ask which clause allows the change. Keep paying the rent in your lease, on time, while you sort it out, so you are never behind.
For month-to-month renters, many states require at least 30 days' written notice before an increase, and some require more for larger increases. A few states and some cities also limit how much rent can rise each year.
In many states a landlord can't raise the rent to punish you for requesting repairs or reporting code violations, because that counts as retaliation. If an increase follows closely after a complaint, keep dated copies of your messages.
Want the whole picture? Read Renting Your First Apartment: Applications, Leases and Move-in Costs.