Rent Increases
Instructions
This form will help you create a letter to send to your landlord. Enter as much information as you can, if there are answers you don’t know, leave them blank and fill them in later after you print it out. After you fill out the information and click ‘Submit’, you’ll be able to print the letter, save it, or send it to yourself via email.
The information you provide here will NOT be saved in any database. We do this to protect your identity, privacy, and safety.
Check only ONE reason for writing this letter. If you have more than one reason, create one letter for each.
Review your letter
{todays_date}
{landlord_name}
{landlord_address}
Re: Rent increase at {tenant_address}
Dear {landlord_name}
I have been a tenant at {tenant_address} since {move_in_date}.
I am writing this letter to respond to the notice you sent to me via {type_notice} on {date_unwritten_notice} regarding the rent increase.
You have provided me with an invalid notice of the changes in my tenancy. Since I’m protected under California law, and as I have received no proper rent increase notice, I will continue to pay {original_rent_amount} in rent.
I am writing this letter to respond to the rent increase notice you sent me on {notice_received_date}. You have not provided me with sufficient written notice of changes in my tenancy required by California law. Since I have received no proper rent increase notice, I will continue to pay {current_rent_amount} in rent.
I am writing this letter in response to the rent increase notice you sent me.
Be advised that California Civil Code Section 1942.5 prohibits you from retaliating against me for having exercised my legal rights to a habitable unit, which includes requesting repairs, calling Codes and Compliance, calling Vector Control, filing a rent board petition, filing a small claims suit against you, and filing a civil suit against you. I believe this rent increase notice is retaliation against me for:
Requesting repairs
Calling vector control
Filing a rent board petition
{other_retaliation_details}
Because you have provided me with an invalid notice and I am protected under California law, I will continue to pay {current_rent_amount} in rent.
I am writing this letter to respond to the notice you sent to me regarding the rent increase.
Please be advised that my tenancy is covered under the California Tenant Protection Act. The amount you are trying to raise my rent is above and beyond this year’s allowed increase and any banked increases you might hold. As I have received a rent increase which is greater than the legally allowed amount, my rent will remain {current_rent_amount} per month, as permissible by law. Hence, I will continue to pay {current_rent_amount} in rent as per my rental agreement instead of the {new_rent_amount} you asked for starting {new_rent_amount_start_date}. I urge you to rescind this notice. If not, I will contact housing organizations for further assistance with this matter.
I am writing this letter to respond to the notice you sent to me regarding the rent increase. Please be advised that my tenancy is covered under the California Tenant Protection Act. This means that you cannot raise my rent more than 2 times in a year. As I have received an illegal increase, I will continue to pay {current_rent_amount} in rent as per my rental agreement instead of the {new_rent_amount} you illegally asked for starting {new_rent_amount_start_date}. I urge you to rescind this notice. If not, I will contact housing organizations or legal counsel for further assistance with this matter.
I am writing this letter in response to the rent increase notice you sent me. Please be advised that my tenancy is covered under the California Tenant Protection Act and that the rent increase notice you have sent me is invalid. Because of this, I will continue to pay {current_rent_amount} in rent as per my rental agreement instead of the {new_rent_amount} you illegally asked for starting {new_rent_amount_start_date}. I urge you to rescind this notice.
Moreover, under California law, you are required to ensure that my unit is in habitable condition, which means conducting timely repairs and following through with maintenance. The following are habitability issues in my unit that need immediate attention.
{repair_repeater}
It is your responsibility under the California Civil Code Section 1941.1 (“Warranty of Habitability”) to take care of the above-mentioned repairs. Please respond to this letter in writing within five (5) days to let me know when and how you plan to complete these repairs.
Also, please be advised that California Civil Code Section 1942.5 prohibits you from retaliating against me for having exercised my legal right to request repairs.
I am writing this letter to respond to the notice you sent me on {notice_received_date} regarding the rent increase.
Please be advised that my tenancy is covered under the Oakland Rent Adjustment Ordinance. This means that you may only raise my rent once per year. Because I’ve already received a rent increase this year, I will not pay the rent increase of {new_rent_amount}. Instead, I will continue to pay {current_rent_amount} in rent as per my rental agreement . I urge you to rescind this notice immediately. If I don’t receive the rescinded notice within 5 days I will be forced to file a Rent Adjustment Program petition.
I am writing this letter to respond to the notice you sent to me regarding the rent increase. Please be advised that my tenancy is covered under the Oakland Rent Adjustment Program Ordinance. The amount you are trying to raise my rent is above and beyond this year’s allowed increase and any banked increases you might hold. Please note, the allowed annual rent increase amount is determined each year by the Oakland Rent Adjustment Program. As I have received a rent increase greater than the legally allowed amount, I will continue to pay {current_rent_amount} in rent as per my rental agreement instead of the {new_rent_amount} you asked for starting {new_rent_amount_start_date}. I urge you to rescind this notice. If not, I will contact the Rent Adjustment Program to file a petition on this matter.
{reason_description}
Lastly, please be advised that California law prohibits retaliation against me for exercising my rights under the law.
Thank you for your attention to these matters.
{tenant_name}