Rent Increase Notice: What Landlords and Tenants Need to Know

When a landlord sends a rent increase notice, a formal written alert that a rental price will rise on a future date. Also known as a notice to raise rent, it’s not just a heads-up—it’s a legal trigger that starts a clock for both sides. In places like Virginia, where new rental laws took effect in 2025, this notice has to follow strict rules: timing, format, and even how it’s delivered matter. Skip the details, and you could be breaking the law—even if you’re just trying to keep up with rising costs.

For tenants, a rent increase notice isn’t always a surprise. It often comes after a lease ends or during a month-to-month tenancy. But here’s the thing: landlord obligations, the legal duties a property owner must follow when changing rent or terms vary by state. In Maryland, for example, landlords must give 30 days’ notice before raising rent. In Virginia, it’s 30 days for month-to-month leases, but no notice is required if the lease is still active—unless the lease says otherwise. That’s why reading your lease isn’t optional. It’s your first line of defense.

And it’s not just about the amount. The tenant rights, the legal protections renters have against unfair rent hikes, retaliation, or eviction include the right to challenge an increase if it’s retaliatory or discriminatory. If your rent jumped 40% overnight and your neighbor’s stayed the same? That’s a red flag. If you’ve complained about mold or broken heat and suddenly get a notice? That could be illegal retaliation. You don’t need a lawyer to know that—it’s basic fairness.

Landlords, you’re not off the hook either. A rent increase notice isn’t a free pass to raise prices however you want. You can’t do it mid-lease unless the lease allows it. You can’t single out one tenant. And you can’t use it to push someone out without cause. In fact, some cities and states cap how much rent can go up in a year. Even where there’s no cap, courts look at whether the increase matches market rates. If your building’s been sitting empty for months and you’re asking for 25% more? That’s not market—it’s desperation.

What you’ll find below isn’t a legal textbook. It’s a practical collection of real cases, state-by-state rules, and clear explanations of what happens when a rent increase notice hits your mailbox. Some posts break down how Virginia’s 2025 laws changed the game. Others show you how to spot a fake notice. One even compares what happens in Maryland versus Boston. You’ll learn how to respond, when to push back, and how to document everything—whether you’re paying rent or collecting it.