Sources
Our state-by-state rules are derived from primary sources, in this order of preference:
- Official state legislature / statute websites (.gov).
- State attorney general consumer-protection guidance.
- Legal-aid organizations and bar association publications.
- Reputable secondary sources (Justia, Cornell LII) when official sites are inaccessible.
Each state page links to the primary statute or regulation we relied on.
Review cadence
We review every state at least once per quarter and after any major legislative change we become aware of. Each state page shows a "Last reviewed" date. Material changes are also recorded on our corrections log.
How the Clarity Score is calculated
The Clarity Score is a 0–100 estimate of how well your proposed rent increase aligns with your state's published rules. It combines:
- The percentage change between current and proposed rent.
- Your state's statewide cap (if any) and standard notice requirement.
- Lease type (rent-stabilized vs. market) and tenancy (renewal vs. month-to-month).
- An "uncapped state" heuristic that flags increases above ~10% as worth a closer look.
- A confidence level reflecting how well-defined your inputs are.
The score and the verdicts ("Likely fair", "On the high side", "Possibly not allowed") are estimates only, based on simplified statewide rules. They do not account for local ordinances, individual lease terms, building age exemptions, mid-lease vs. renewal timing, or any other situation-specific factor.
Known limitations
- City and county ordinances often override or supplement state law and are not always reflected.
- Buildings exempt from rent control (newer construction, owner-occupied small properties) may follow different rules.
- We do not provide individualized legal analysis. Our outputs are educational starting points, not legal conclusions.
Corrections
If you believe any data on this site is wrong or out of date, please report it via our contact page. Acknowledged corrections appear on the corrections log.