Why this matters
San Diegans, similar to residents in communities across the state, are grappling with a worsening housing and homelessness crisis.
Inflation is creeping up slightly nationwide, and that means San Diego County property owners and managers can set rents a bit higher for the next year.
Starting this Friday, the new cap on rent increases for the San Diego region is 8.8% — an increase from last year’s limit of 8.6%. The change comes from a cost-of-living adjustment set by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The California Tenant Protection Act, passed in 2019, limits how much landlords can raise the rent in a 12-month period. It set a 10% maximum cap, or 5% plus the percentage change in the cost of living, whichever is lower. Every year, that calculation is determined in April and the change takes effect August 1.
How to calculate a rent increase
Take the new rent and subtract the old rent from it. Then, divide that amount by the old rent. In the example below, a tenant received notice their rent was increasing from $2,150 to $2,500.
$2,500 – $2,150 = $350 / $2,150 = .1627 or a 16.3% increase
The new 8.8% cap will remain in effect in San Diego County until the next adjustment in August 2026.
The rent cap applies to most rental housing in California that is older than 15 years, including single-family homes and condos owned by corporations, mobile homes rented from a mobile home park’s management, and housing rented by Section 8 voucher holders, according to California Attorney General Rob Bonta.
Rental housing providers who want to increase the rent generally must provide tenants a 30-day notice, but that requirement jumps to 90 days if they intend to raise the rent above the 10% maximum cap on exempt properties, when law allows it. And that notice must be in writing, delivered to the tenant personally, put on the door or sent in the mail.
For tips on how to spot an illegal rent increase, read inewsource’s guide and our previous investigation.
Type of Content
News: Based on facts, either observed and verified directly by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.