Request Rent Increase

Housing Choice Voucher / Landlords

Landlords are constantly concerned with rising costs and whether rent revenues will cover their operating expenses while allowing for a reasonable return on their investment. Landlords may ask for rental increases on an annual basis.

Before the rent can be increased on an assisted unit, the landlord must file a written request which must be approved by the MHA. A Rent Increase form is attached to this manual and can be requested at any time from MHA staff. Rent reasonableness plays a very important role in determining what rent the MHA can approve for an annual increase for a lease. If the rent reasonableness test supports the proposed rent, the proposed rent will be approved. Unless there is a question of whether the proposed rent is reasonable, the MHA generally will approve the landlords’ request. Documentation to support an increase can be an increase in taxes, utilities, or the cost of capital improvements over and above normal wear and tear.

The landlord must give the resident a (60) day written notice prior to any proposed rent increase.  A copy of the notice must be given to the MHA. If it is determined that the family was not given sufficient notice of the increase and/or that the proposed rent is not reasonable in relation to rents charged for comparable rental units, the proposed rent will not be approved.

If the proposed rent for Housing Choice Voucher Program assisted lease is greater than the rent the landlord is charging non-Housing Choice residents for similar units, it will not be approved by the MHA. It is against HUD rules and regulations to charge a Housing Choice Voucher Program resident more than a non-Housing Choice Programs resident. Also, the collection of side payments from Housing Choice Voucher Program tenants is a serious offense that is punishable under Federal law. Side payments include rent collected above the HAP contract for the rental of the property. The MHA has the responsibility to counsel participant families in the areas of rent negotiation and affordability of rents.

The landlord must also provide the MHA with information regarding the utilities and other services included in the rent. This information will be verified and used in the evaluating the landlords request for a rent increase.

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The effective date of the approved rent increase will be the first of the month following the sixty (60) days' notice to MHA. 

Dedicated Email box for Rent Increase Request

In an effort to better serve you we are streamlining our process with an updated adjustment.

Effective immediately please note we have established a dedicated mailbox for all Rent Increase requests.

Going forward, please submit your Rent Increase request directly to rentincrease@marinhousing.org  for processing.

For your convenience, you may download a Rent Increase Request form directly from our Website at https://www.marinhousing.org.

Thank you in advance for your attention to this matter.