Landlord raised my rent $300: what should I do?

The rest of this guide walks through one worked example, a $300 increase from $2,400 to $2,700, and a six-step way to decide what to do with your own.

What $300 a month really costs

Landlords quote increases per month because the monthly number sounds smaller. Put it on a yearly basis before you decide anything:

Increases also compound. Next year's increase, if there is one, will be calculated on the new, higher rent. A 4% increase on $2,700 is $108 a month, compared with $96 on $2,400.

The same $300 means different things at different rents. On $1,500 a month it is a 20% increase. On $2,400 it is 12.5%. On $3,500 it is about 8.6%. The percentage is a useful signal, but it does not tell you whether the new rent is fair. For that you need the market.

Is a $300 increase reasonable?

Sometimes it is. If you have rented the same place for several years at a rent the landlord never raised much, your rent may simply have fallen behind what similar homes now cost, and a large step up brings it back in line. A $300 increase can also reflect a market that has genuinely moved.

Sometimes it is not. If comparable homes nearby are listed well below your new rent, the increase asks you to pay more than it would likely cost to rent a similar place, and more than the landlord might get from a new tenant after a vacancy. Our guide to what makes a rent increase reasonable covers this in more depth.

In practice you are comparing three numbers: what you pay now, what your landlord proposes, and what similar homes nearby rent for.

A worked example: $2,400 to $2,700

Imagine a one-bedroom renting for $2,400. The renewal notice proposes $2,700. The renter finds several comparable one-bedrooms listed nearby, similar in size and condition, at $2,500 to $2,600.

Two things stand out.

• Some increase looks justified. At $2,400, the renter is paying less than similar homes are listed for, so asking to stay at $2,400 would be hard to support.
• The full $2,700 looks high. It sits $100 to $200 above the comparable listings. If the renter moved out, the landlord would likely re-list around $2,500 to $2,600, and could face the potential costs of a vacancy, cleaning and advertising on top.

That combination supports a counter rather than accepting $2,700 as quoted. A reasonable approach would be to open at about $2,525 and aim to settle between $2,550 and $2,600. Settling at $2,575 would keep $125 a month, or $1,500 over the year, compared with accepting. Even settling at $2,600 keeps $1,200. The landlord still gets a meaningful increase over $2,400, which is part of what makes a counter like this easy to agree to. It is still not guaranteed: the landlord decides.

What to gather before you reply

• The renewal notice: the new rent, any new or higher fees, the lease term offered, and the date you have to respond by.
• Three to five comparable listings: rent, bedrooms, square footage, distance from you, and when each was listed.
• Your own record: how long you have lived there and whether you have paid on time.
• Anything outstanding in the unit, such as repairs you have asked for.
• A rough cost of moving, so you know what your alternative really costs.

A six-step way to decide

1. Calculate the yearly impact

Multiply the increase by twelve and add any fee changes. That is the number you are deciding about, and it tells you how much effort the negotiation deserves.

2. Check nearby comparable rentals

Look for homes with the same number of bedrooms, a similar size, close to you, and listed recently. If a listing offers a free month or another special, work out its effective monthly rent. Our guide to rental comps explains how to choose them and which ones a landlord will take seriously.

3. Compare current, proposed and market rent

Where the three numbers sit tells you most of what you need:

• Proposed rent at or below the market: the increase is broadly in line. You can still ask for terms, but a lower rent is hard to argue for.
• Current rent below the market, proposed rent above it: the example above. Counter somewhere in the market range.
• Both above the market: your strongest position. A counter close to your current rent may be supportable.

4. Choose a counter

Decide two numbers before you write: the figure you open with and the range you would happily settle in. Open slightly below where you expect to land, so there is room to meet in the middle. Our guide on how much to counter works through this in detail.

5. Send a short, specific message

Keep it polite and brief: you want to renew, here is what similar homes are listed for, here is the number you are asking for, and here is what you can offer in return.

6. Decide whether to renew or move

Put a number on moving: deposits, movers, application fees, time off work, and any overlap in rent. If moving would cost $2,500 and the best counter you can get saves $1,200 a year, renewing may still win. If comparable homes are far cheaper, moving may be worth it. Our guide on whether to accept a rent increase helps you weigh the two.

If your landlord says no

A no to your number is not always a no to everything. Before you decide, try:

• A figure in between. If they will not go to $2,525, ask whether $2,600 works.
• Terms instead of rent. A longer lease at a smaller increase, a waived fee, a repair or upgrade, or a later start date for the new rent. Our lease renewal guide lists the terms landlords most often agree to.
• A firm decision on your side. If the answer stays no, compare $2,700 with the real cost of moving and choose. Stay polite either way: you may want a reference later.

How CounterRent helps

CounterRent compares your renewal with comparable rentals near your address and tells you, for free, whether the data supports a counter. If it does, you can unlock a recommended opening counter, a target settlement range and a message written for you. Check whether your $300 increase is supported by nearby rentals.