You've owned the property for a year. The lease allows for an annual rent increase. It's time to review the rent.   So you do what you've always done: you increase it by the inflation rate (or whatever percentage seems reasonable), serve a Section 13 notice, and move on.   It's routine. It's simple. It's a tick-box exercise.   But here's the problem: in today's regulatory environment, that approach could invite legal disputes, tenant complaints, and regulatory scrutiny.   The

When was the last time you pressure-tested your rent increase process? Before you issue the next notice, ask yourself: "Can I confidently justify this increase with clear data if a tenant challenges it?" If there's any hesitation, it's a sign your justification process needs strengthening, not just the proposed figure. Many landlords approach rent increases reactively—waiting until they need more income, then issuing a notice based on gut feeling or what they think the market