The following page describes how to calculate a rent increases in one of two situations:
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A landlord is raising rent exactly two or more years since the last rent increase
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The landlord has never applied a rental increase, and the landlord is raising a unit’s rent exactly two or more years since the tenant moved in
In these situations, landlords may increase rent by adding up the allowable increases during that time period.
For example, consider an apartment where the tenants moved in on September 1, 2016. If a unit’s monthly rent is $1500 and a landlord wants to raise rent on September 1, 2020, the landlord can use the following sheet to add up the previous four years of allowable increases.
This would mean the landlord can increase rent by 8.2% (2.2% + 1.6% + 2.6% + 1.8% = 8.2%). This means multiplying $1500 by 8.2% (or .082). Doing so means the landlord can raise the monthly rent by $123.
The same methodology would be applied if, for example, the last time the landlord raised the tenant’s rent was on September 1, 2016. The landlord can apply the same 8.2% increase on September 1, 2020.
Other considerations
- Increases cannot be compounded
- Landlords are not required to file a petition with the City to impose these types of rent increases
- Landlords cannot “round up” to the nearest dollar when calculating rent increases
- Landlords must give at least 30-days notice in writing before any increase goes into effect (or 35-days if sent by mail)
- Landlords can only increase the rent on “base rent” and cannot include any “passthrough charges” (such as water bonds, tax bonds, improvement costs) in the increase calculation. However, rent paid for parking or storage space is generally considered part of “base rent.”
More information
Disclaimer
The following is a basic summary and does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice. If you have specific questions about your situation, please contact a SF Rent Board Counselor or visit www.sf.gov/rentboard for more information.