Rent Increase Legality Calculator

ANA›Life Services Authority›National Calculator Authority›Rent Increase Legality Calculator

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Rent Increase Legality Calculator

Determine whether a proposed rent increase complies with rent control ordinances, CPI-based caps, and required notice periods based on your state and local rules.

State / Jurisdiction

-- Select State -- California New York Oregon Washington New Jersey Maryland District of Columbia Other / No Rent Control

Current Monthly Rent ($)

Proposed Monthly Rent ($)

Length of Tenancy (Years)

Notice Given (Days)

Months Since Last Rent Increase

Unit Type

Residential (Apartment/House) Condo / Individually Owned Subsidized / Section 8 New Construction (< 15 years old) Single-Family Residence

Local CPI Increase (%) — Current Year (Check BLS.gov for your region)

Calculate Legality

(function() {

// State rent control rules database const STATE_RULES = { CA: { name: "California", hasRentControl: true, statewideCap: true, // AB 1482: max 5% + local CPI, never more than 10% maxCapPercent: 10, cpiMultiplier: 1.0, baseCap: 5, minNoticeDays: { standard: 30, over10pct: 90 }, minMonthsBetweenIncreases: 12, exemptions: ["new", "sfr", "condo"], notes: "AB 1482 (Tenant Protection Act): Max increase = 5% + local CPI, capped at 10%. Exempt: single-family homes (with notice), condos, buildings built within last 15 years.", subsidizedCap: 0 }, NY: { name: "New York", hasRentControl: true, statewideCap: true, // ETPA / NYC Rent Guidelines Board sets annual % maxCapPercent: 3.0, // 1-year lease (2024 RGB guideline ~2.75-3%) cpiMultiplier: 0, baseCap: 3.0, minNoticeDays: { standard: 30, over10pct: 90 }, minMonthsBetweenIncreases: 12, exemptions: ["new", "sfr"], notes: "NYC Rent Stabilization: 1-year lease cap ~3% (set annually by Rent Guidelines Board). 2-year lease cap ~2.75% yr1 + 3.2% yr2. ETPA applies to cities with 6+ unit buildings.", subsidizedCap: 0 }, OR: { name: "Oregon", hasRentControl: true, statewideCap: true, // OR: 7% + CPI, max 10% maxCapPercent: 10, cpiMultiplier: 1.0, baseCap: 7, minNoticeDays: { standard: 90, over10pct: 90 }, minMonthsBetweenIncreases: 12, exemptions: ["new", "sfr"], notes: "Oregon SB 608: Max increase = 7% + CPI, never exceeding 10%. 90-day written notice required for any increase. Exempt: units less than 15 years old, subsidized housing.", subsidizedCap: 0 }, WA: { name: "Washington", hasRentControl: false, statewideCap: false, maxCapPercent: null, cpiMultiplier: 0, baseCap: null, minNoticeDays: { standard: 20, over10pct: 60 }, minMonthsBetweenIncreases: 0, exemptions: [], notes: "Washington state preempts local rent control (RCW 35.21.830). No cap on rent increases. 20-day notice required for increases under 10%; 60-day notice for increases of 10% or more (HB 1389, 2023).", subsidizedCap: null }, NJ: { name: "New Jersey", hasRentControl: true, statewideCap: false, maxCapPercent: 4, cpiMultiplier: 1.0, baseCap: 4, minNoticeDays: { standard: 30, over10pct: 30 }, minMonthsBetweenIncreases: 12, exemptions: ["new", "sfr"], notes: "NJ rent control is municipal — varies by city. Many municipalities cap at CPI or 4-5%. Newark, Jersey City, and others have specific ordinances. Check your local municipality.", subsidizedCap: 0 }, MD: { name: "Maryland", hasRentControl: true, statewideCap: false, maxCapPercent: 3, cpiMultiplier: 1.0, baseCap: 3, minNoticeDays: { standard: 60, over10pct: 60 }, minMonthsBetweenIncreases: 12, exemptions: ["new", "sfr"], notes: "Maryland rent control is local. Montgomery County caps at CPI or 3% (whichever is lower). Baltimore City has its own ordinance. 60-day notice required statewide for rent increases.", subsidizedCap: 0 }, DC: { name: "District of Columbia", hasRentControl: true, statewideCap: true, // DC: CPI + 2%, max 10% for general; elderly/disabled: CPI only maxCapPercent: 10, cpiMultiplier: 1.0, baseCap: 2, minNoticeDays: { standard: 30, over10pct: 30 }, minMonthsBetweenIncreases: 12, exemptions: ["new", "sfr"], notes: "DC Rent Stabilization: General tenants: CPI + 2%, max 10%. Elderly/disabled tenants: CPI only. Buildings built after 1975 or with fewer than 5 units are exempt. 30-day notice required.", subsidizedCap: 0 }, OTHER: { name: "Other / No Rent Control", hasRentControl: false, statewideCap: false, maxCapPercent: null, cpiMultiplier: 0, baseCap: null, minNoticeDays: { standard: 30, over10pct: 30 }, minMonthsBetweenIncreases: 0, exemptions: [], notes: "Most U.S. states do not have statewide rent control. Landlords may raise rent to any amount with proper notice (typically 30 days for month-to-month, or at lease end for fixed-term leases).", subsidizedCap: null } };

window.renUpdateState = function() { const state = document.getElementById('ren-state').value; const cpiGroup = document.getElementById('ren-cpi-group'); if (state && STATE_RULES[state] && STATE_RULES[state].cpiMultiplier > 0) { cpiGroup.style.display = 'block'; } else { cpiGroup.style.display = 'none'; } };

window.renCalc = function() { const resultDiv = document.getElementById('ren-result'); resultDiv.style.display = 'block';

// --- Input collection --- const stateKey = document.getElementById('ren-state').value; const currentRent = parseFloat(document.getElementById('ren-current-rent').value); const proposedRent = parseFloat(document.getElementById('ren-proposed-rent').value); const tenancyYears = parseFloat(document.getElementById('ren-tenancy-years').value); const noticeDays = parseFloat(document.getElementById('ren-notice-days').value); const lastIncreaseMonths = parseFloat(document.getElementById('ren-last-increase-months').value); const unitType = document.getElementById('ren-unit-type').value; const cpi = parseFloat(document.getElementById('ren-cpi').value) || 3.5;

// --- Validation --- const errors = []; if (!stateKey) errors.push("Please select a state or jurisdiction."); if (isNaN(currentRent) || currentRent 0) { resultDiv.innerHTML = 'Please fix the following:' + errors.map(e => '').join('') + ''; return; }

const rules = STATE_RULES[stateKey];

// --- Core Calculations --- const dollarIncrease = proposedRent - currentRent; const percentIncrease = (dollarIncrease / currentRent) * 100;

// Check if unit is exempt from rent control const isExempt = rules.exemptions.includes(unitType); const isSubsidized = unitType === 'subsidized';

// Calculate allowable cap let allowableCap = null; let allowableMaxRent = null; let capFormula = '';

if (rules.hasRentControl && !isExempt) { if (isSubsidized) { allowableCap = 0; allowableMaxRent = currentRent; capFormula = 'Subsidized housing: increases governed by HUD/subsidy contract (typically 0% without approval)'; } else if (rules.cpiMultiplier > 0) { // e.g. CA: 5% + CPI, max 10%; OR: 7% + CPI, max 10%; DC: 2% + CPI, max 10% const rawCap = rules.baseCap + (rules.cpiMultiplier * cpi); allowableCap = Math.min(rawCap, rules.maxCapPercent); allowableMaxRent = currentRent * (1 + allowableCap / 100); capFormula = rules.baseCap + '% + CPI (' + cpi.toFixed(1) + '%) = ' + rawCap.toFixed(2) + '%, capped at ' + rules.maxCapPercent + '% → Allowable cap: ' + allowableCap.toFixed(2) + '%'; } else { allowableCap = rules.maxCapPercent; allowableMaxRent = currentRent * (1 + allowableCap / 100); capFormula = 'Fixed cap: ' + allowableCap + '%'; } }

// Notice requirement
const requiredNotice = percentIncrease >= 10
? rules.minNoticeDays.over10pct
rules.minNoticeDays.standard;

const noticeOk = noticeDays >= requiredNotice;

// Frequency requirement const frequencyOk = rules.minMonthsBetweenIncreases === 0 || lastIncreaseMonths >= rules.minMonthsBetweenIncreases;

// Amount legality let amountLegal = true; let amountStatus = ''; if (rules.hasRentControl && !isExempt) { amountLegal = proposedRent ' + '### ' + verdictIcon + ' ' + verdictText + ' ' + 'Jurisdiction: ' + rules.name + '

';

html += ''; html += 'Check' + 'Your Value' + 'Required' + 'Status';

// Row: Increase amount html += '' + 'Rent Increase Amount' + '$' + dollarIncrease.toFixed(2) + ' (' + percentIncrease.toFixed(2) + '%)' + '' + (allowableCap !== null ? '≤ ' + allowableCap.toFixed(2) + '% ($' + (allowableMaxRent ? allowableMaxRent.toFixed(2) : 'N/A') + ')' : 'No cap') + '' + '' + amountStatus + '';

// Row: Notice html += '' + 'Notice Period' + '' + noticeDays + ' days' + '≥ ' + requiredNotice + ' days' + (percentIncrease >= 10 ? ' (≥10% increase)' : '') + '' + '' + (noticeOk ? '✅ Sufficient notice' : '❌ Insufficient notice — need ' + requiredNotice + ' days') + '';

// Row: Frequency html += '' + 'Increase Frequency' + '' + lastIncreaseMonths + ' months since last increase' + '≥ ' + rules.minMonthsBetweenIncreases + ' months between increases' + '' + (frequencyOk ? '✅ Frequency OK' : '❌ Too soon — must wait ' + rules.minMonthsBetweenIncreases + ' months') + '';

// Row: Unit exemption html += '' + 'Unit Exemption Status' + '' + unitType + '' + 'Rent-controlled unit required' + '' + (isExempt ? '⚠️ Unit type may be exempt — verify locally' : (rules.hasRentControl ? '✅ Subject to rent control' : 'ℹ️ No rent control in this state')) + '';

html += '';

// Summary numbers html += '' + '#### Summary ' + '' + '' + '$' + currentRent.toFixed(2) + '' + 'Current Rent' + '' + '$' + proposedRent.toFixed(2) + '' + 'Proposed Rent' + '' + ' 0 ? '#b30000' : '#1a7a1a') + ';">+$' + dollarIncrease.toFixed(2) + '' + 'Dollar Increase' + '' + ' (allowableCap || 999) ? '#b30000' : '#1a7a1a') + ';">' + percentIncrease.toFixed(2) + '%' + '% Increase' + (allowableCap !== null ? '' + '' + allowableCap.toFixed(2) + '%' + 'Allowable Cap' : '') + (allowableMaxRent !== null ? '' + '$' + allowableMaxRent.toFixed(2) + '' + 'Max Legal Rent' : '') + '';

// Cap formula detail if (capFormula) { html += '' + 'Cap Calculation: ' + capFormula + ''; }

// State-specific notes html += '' + '📋 ' + rules.name + ' Rules: ' + rules.notes + '';

html += '⚠️ This calculator provides general guidance only and is not legal advice. Rent control laws vary significantly by city and county. Consult a local tenant rights organization or attorney for your specific situation.

';

resultDiv.innerHTML = html; };

// Initialize CPI group visibility document.getElementById('ren-cpi-group').style.display = 'none';

})();

#### Formulas Used

Percent Increase: ((Proposed Rent − Current Rent) / Current Rent) × 100

California (AB 1482): Max Increase % = min(5% + CPI%, 10%) → Max Legal Rent = Current Rent × (1 + Max%/100)

Oregon (SB 608): Max Increase % = min(7% + CPI%, 10%) → Max Legal Rent = Current Rent × (1 + Max%/100)

DC: Max Increase % = min(2% + CPI%, 10%) → Max Legal Rent = Current Rent × (1 + Max%/100)

Notice Threshold: If Increase% ≥ 10% → Extended notice required; else standard notice applies

Legality: LEGAL if (Proposed Rent ≤ Max Legal Rent) AND (Notice Days ≥ Required Notice) AND (Months Since Last Increase ≥ Minimum Frequency)

#### Assumptions & References

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References

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