Rent Increase Notice for Month-to-Month Tenants — Free Template
With a month-to-month tenancy, a landlord can usually change the rent by giving written notice, without a new lease. The notice period, and any limit on the increase, depends on your state and city. This template lists the old rent, the new rent and the start date so the tenant knows exactly what to pay and when.
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Free to preview[Landlord or property manager name]
[Your address and phone or email]
October 15, 2026
To: [Tenant name(s)]
[Rental property address]
Re: Notice of rent increase — [Rental property address]
Dear [Tenant name(s)],
This letter is written notice that the monthly rent for [Rental property address] will change as described below.
Type of tenancy: Month-to-month tenancy.
Current monthly rent: [Current monthly rent ($)]
New monthly rent: [New monthly rent ($)]
Increase: [New monthly rent ($)] per month
Effective date: [Date the new rent takes effect]
The new rent will be due beginning [Date the new rent takes effect]. This notice is being given at least [How many days' notice you're giving] days before the new rent takes effect.
All other terms of your rental agreement remain the same unless we agree otherwise in writing.
If you have any questions about this notice, please contact me at the address or phone number above. Thank you for being a tenant at [Rental property address].
Sincerely,
[Landlord or property manager name]
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How month-to-month increases work
A month-to-month tenancy renews itself each rental period, so the terms can change with proper notice. Most states set a minimum notice period for rent increases, commonly at least one full rental period, and some require more for larger increases. Rent-control and rent-stabilization rules in some states and cities limit how much and how often rent can go up, and may require registration or specific forms.
The tenant doesn't need to sign anything for a properly noticed increase to take effect.
Timing and delivery
Set the effective date on the first day of a rental period, after the full notice period has run from the day the tenant receives the notice. Deliver it the way your state and lease allow, and add mailing days if you send it by mail.
Avoid raising the rent right after a tenant complains about repairs or exercises a legal right. Some states presume an increase in that window is retaliatory.
What the tenant can do
The tenant can pay the new rent from the effective date or give their own notice to end the tenancy. If they stay and keep paying the old amount, follow up in writing. Before treating the shortfall as unpaid rent, check your state's rules on notices and partial payments.
What to do, step by step
Check whether the increase is allowed
Read the lease: a fixed-term lease usually locks the rent until it ends unless it says otherwise. Then check state and city rules, including any rent-control or rent-stabilization limits on how much and how often rent can rise.
Find the notice period
Many states require at least 30 days' notice for month-to-month tenancies, and some require more for larger increases or longer tenancies. Use the longest period that applies.
Fill in the notice
Answer the questions above with the current rent, new rent and effective date. The letter shows the monthly increase automatically.
Deliver it properly
Serve the notice the way your state and lease require, such as hand delivery or mail, and allow extra days if you mail it.
Keep a record
Keep a copy and note the date and method of delivery, and update your rent records and any payment systems before the effective date.
What if the tenant doesn't accept the rent increase?
For a month-to-month tenancy, a properly given rent increase notice usually takes effect on its date whether or not the tenant signs or replies. The tenant's choice is generally to pay the new rent or give their own notice to move out before it takes effect.
If the tenant keeps paying the old amount after the effective date, talk to them and follow up in writing. Treat any shortfall carefully: the rules on serving a notice for unpaid rent, and on accepting partial payments, vary by state. If the increase wasn't properly noticed or exceeds a local limit, the tenant may not owe it.
Rent increases that are retaliatory, such as one that follows a repair complaint, or discriminatory are illegal in most places. Many cities with rent control also have a rent board that hears tenant complaints, so keep records of how you calculated the increase.
Example rent increase notice for month-to-month
A filled-in sample with made-up details, so you can see the finished result.
Northfield Property Group
PO Box 518, Columbus, OH 43216 · (555) 274-9031
October 5, 2026
To: Marisol Vega and Daniel Vega
312 Birch St, Unit 4, Columbus, OH 43206
Re: Notice of rent increase — 312 Birch St, Unit 4, Columbus, OH 43206
Dear Marisol Vega and Daniel Vega,
This letter is written notice that the monthly rent for 312 Birch St, Unit 4, Columbus, OH 43206 will change as described below.
Type of tenancy: Month-to-month tenancy.
Current monthly rent: $1,350.00
New monthly rent: $1,420.00
Increase: $70.00 per month
Effective date: December 1, 2026
The new rent will be due beginning December 1, 2026. This notice is being given at least 30 days before the new rent takes effect.
This increase reflects higher property taxes and insurance costs for the building this year. Please update any automatic payments to the new amount starting with the December rent.
All other terms of your rental agreement remain the same unless we agree otherwise in writing.
If you have any questions about this notice, please contact me at the address or phone number above. Thank you for being a tenant at 312 Birch St, Unit 4, Columbus, OH 43206.
Sincerely,
Northfield Property Group
Frequently asked questions
How often can I raise rent on a month-to-month tenant?
Where there is no rent control, often as often as you give proper notice, though frequent increases tend to drive tenants away. Rent-controlled areas commonly limit increases to once a year or set other rules.
Does a month-to-month tenant have to agree to an increase?
Generally no. With proper notice, the increase takes effect on its date. The tenant's alternative is to end the tenancy with their own notice before then.
Can I raise rent and change other terms at the same time?
Often yes, with the same notice, though some changes have their own rules. Describe any other change clearly in the details box, and check your local rules for anything significant.
How much notice do I need to give for a rent increase?
It depends on the state, sometimes the city, the type of tenancy and the lease. Thirty days is common for month-to-month tenancies, but some places require 60 or 90 days, especially for larger increases. Check your local rules before choosing a date.
How much can I raise the rent?
In many places there is no cap on increases for market-rate units, but some states and many cities have rent-control or rent-stabilization rules that cap increases or limit how often rent can rise. Subsidized housing has its own rules. Check what applies to your property.
FairLetter is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Letters are templates you customize and send yourself.