How Much Can You Raise Rent in San Diego? (2025)

jacob-thomason Updated on January 29, 2025 1002 views 2

San Diego ranks 8th in the list of US cities with the highest rank in 2024. 

Why won’t it be? 

Rising inflation and housing shortage have all contributed to a surge in rental prices over the years. 

Fortunately, California’s state-wide rent control laws and San Diego’s local ordinances have successfully kept rent hikes in check. 

How much can you raise rent in San Diego? What is the rent cap in San Diego?

In this in-depth guide, get all the answers from experts. 

Looking for a reliable property management software? Grab a 30-day free trial of Rentpost. Here are some of the features of RentPost:

• Rental Accounting
• Property Management
• Work Orders
• Leasing
• Payshift
• Tenant Screening

Table of contents

How Much Can You Raise Rent in San Diego?

If you’re a landlord in San Diego, you might wonder how much you can raise the rent on your property. While you’re free to set the rent at any amount for new tenants, there are limits when it comes to increasing rent for existing tenants.

The California Tenant Protection Act of 2019, also called Assembly Bill 1482, imposes statewide rules about rent increases. 

Under this law, landlords in California (including San Diego) can only raise rent by 5% plus the local inflation rate (CPI-U). However, the total increase cannot be more than 10% in a single year, irrespective of the official inflation number. This law is meant to protect tenants from big rent hikes that could make housing unaffordable.

You can refer to the following excerpt from AB 1482, which explains the new rent increase limit:

“This bill would, until January 1, 2030, prohibit an owner of residential real property from, over the course of any 12-month period, increasing the gross rental rate for a dwelling or unit more than 5% plus the percentage change in the cost of living, as defined, or 10%, whichever is lower, of the lowest gross rental rate charged for the immediately preceding 12 months, subject to specified conditions. 

The bill would prohibit an owner of a unit of residential real property from increasing the gross rental rate for the unit in more than 2 increments over 12 months after the tenant remains in occupancy of the unit over a 12-month period.”

In San Diego County, there are also some local rules to regulate rent hikes. Starting August 1, 2024, through July 31, 2025, you can raise rent by a maximum of 8.6%.

This amount is calculated based on:

• A 5% base increase, as allowed by California’s rent control law, plus
• A 3.6% increase due to the local inflation rate (CPI). 

What is the Rent Cap in San Diego?

In San Diego, the rent cap for the period from August 1, 2024, to July 31, 2025, is set at 8.6%. This limit comes from California’s Tenant Protection Act, which combines a 5% base increase with a 3.6% adjustment for local inflation (CPI) for the above period. Even though the law permits annual increases based on inflation, the total hike cannot go beyond 10%, ensuring a balance between fair adjustments for you and affordability for your tenants.

However, not all properties are covered by this law. 

For example, buildings that were constructed in the last 15 years are not included. The rule also doesn’t apply to single-family homes if the owner is an individual and not a company. There are a few other exceptions, too, such as a duplex (where the landlord lives in one unit and rents out the other), low-income housing, school-owned housing, and housing already subject to more stringent rent control. 

How Often Can a Landlord Raise Rent in San Diego?

You can hike rent only two times within a 12-month period. The goal is to bring more stability and predictability to renting in San Diego, where housing costs are notoriously high.  

Rent Increase Notice in San Diego By Government 

Rent increases of 10% or less require you to provide your tenants with at least 30 days’ written notice. Since rent increases cannot legally exceed 10%, any such adjustment should only necessitate a 30-day notice period. 

For exempt properties, if you intend to raise the rent above the 10% cap (where permitted by law), the notice period extends to 90 days. This notice must be delivered in writing and provided to the tenant either in person, by posting it on their door, or via mail.

Single-Family Home Rent Increase in San Diego

In San Diego, the maximum allowable rent increase for single-family homes (owned by corporations, real estate investment trusts (REITs), or LLCs with corporate members) is capped at either 10% or 5% plus the annual inflation rate, whichever is lower. Single-family homes owned by an individual don’t fall under the rent control laws. 

Does San Diego Have Rent Control?

San Diego doesn’t have citywide rent control for most rental properties, including single-family homes and newer buildings. However, certain older properties built before 1978 are subject to rent control under California’s statewide rent control laws, specifically the California statewide rent control law (AB 1482). 

This law limits rent increases to 5% of the current rent or $100, whichever is higher, plus the local inflation rate, and restricts increases to twice per year.

Per Year Rent Increase in San Diego

In San Diego, landlords can only increase rent once a year. The maximum increase is 5% of the current rent plus the local inflation rate, but it can’t go over 10% in a year. This rule helps make rent more affordable for tenants while letting landlords adjust for changes in the economy.

Month-to-Month Rent Increase in San Diego

For month-to-month renters, landlords can increase the rent twice a year. The rent increase has to follow the same 5% plus inflation rule, but it can’t go higher than 10% in 12 months. Tenants must be given 30 days’ notice for increases under 10%.

Can a Landlord Raise Rent More Than 10% in San Diego?

In San Diego, you cannot raise rent by more than 10% for single-family homes. If you try to raise the rent beyond this limit, it would not be allowed under the law. This rule helps protect tenants from excessive rent hikes while allowing you to adjust rent in line with inflation or market conditions within certain limits.

How to Manage Your Rental Property and Rent Collection?

Managing rental properties often takes a toll on you, whether you’re new to the game or have years of experience. From keeping track of rent payments to handling maintenance requests, the tasks can pile up quickly. 

But thankfully, RentPost is here to make the process smoother and more manageable without breaking your bank. 

Here’s how RentPost can simplify the rental property management for landlords and property managers:

Streamlined Rent Collection Process

Rent collection is often a major headache for landlords. Without a streamlined system, it can become a constant task of reminding tenants and chasing late payments. RentPost removes that stress by automating the entire process. You don’t have to worry about manually sending reminders or tracking late fees. 

The software takes care of it, sending automatic payment reminders to tenants and ensuring any overdue fees are rightfully applied. This lets you focus on other important aspects of property management while knowing that rent payments are being tracked and collected on time.

Effortless Maintenance Tracking

When tenants need something repaired, they expect a quick response. Isn’t it? RentPost helps you handle maintenance requests with ease. Through the platform, tenants can easily submit maintenance tickets, and you can track and resolve them in an organized way. This ensures that nothing slips through the cracks and that maintenance issues are addressed promptly. 

By keeping tenants happy and addressing repairs quickly, you also help maintain the condition of your properties, saving you money in the long run.

Smart Financial Management

Managing finances as a landlord can be tricky. Keeping track of expenses and rent payments and generating reports manually can lead to mistakes or missed details. RentPost automates these processes, providing real-time financial reports that give you a clear picture of your property’s financial health. 

From tracking expenses to generating tax-ready reports, the platform handles it all, making your financial management much easier. And with real-time updates, you don’t have to worry about errors or delays. It’s like having an accounting assistant without the extra cost.

Seamless Communication with Tenants and Contractors

Communication is essential in property management, but it’s not always easy to stay in touch with tenants and contractors, especially when things get busy for either of you. RentPost offers a simple and effective way to communicate with everyone involved, right through your phone. 

Through the platform, you can message tenants about upcoming rent due dates or maintenance schedules and even communicate directly with contractors when needed. This helps keep everyone informed and on the same page, which is vital for resolving issues quickly and efficiently.

Future-Proof Your Business with Scalability

One of the best features of RentPost is its ability to grow with your business. As your rental portfolio expands, RentPost can easily scale to meet your needs. Whether you’re managing a handful of properties or planning to add more in the future, the software is designed to handle growth without any hassle.

This means you don’t have to worry about outgrowing your property management tool as your business develops.

Access Your Property Anywhere, Anytime

With RentPost, managing your properties doesn’t have to mean being tied to your office or desk. The platform is mobile-friendly, allowing you to manage everything from your smartphone. Whether you’re at home, on vacation, or anywhere else, you can easily access your property management tools and stay on top of tasks. This flexibility ensures that you’re always in control, no matter where life takes you.

RentPost is more than just a tool – it’s a complete property management solution that makes it easier for you to manage everything from rent collection to maintenance and finances.

Here’s a glimpse of the tool:

• Generate Financial Reports: Gain insights into your rental property’s financial health by generating income and expense reports. These reports help you decide if it’s the right time to adjust rent prices based on your property’s performance.

• Automated Payment Reminders: Set up automated reminders via text or mail to ensure timely rent payments. RentPost automatically calculates and applies late fees based on the schedules you define, so you never have to chase payments again.

• Online Rent Collection: Make rent collection easier by allowing tenants to pay online via credit/debit card or bank transfer. RentPost generates and sends electronic receipts for each payment, keeping everything organized and transparent.

• Real-Time Payment Tracking: Keep track of rent payments and outstanding balances instantly with just one click. You’ll always know the status of each payment without any hassle.
• Tenant Screening Made Easy: Screen prospective tenants with ease by requesting background and credit checks, eviction history, identity verification, and more, helping you find reliable renters.

• Automated Rent Payment Tracking: Rent payments are automatically recorded and tracked, and then deposited directly into your bank account, simplifying your financial processes.
• Scalable Management: As your rental portfolio grows, RentPost makes it easy to add new units and tenants, helping you scale your business with minimal effort.

Final words

While rent prices in San Diego are rising due to inflation and housing shortages, California’s rent control laws and local regulations help keep increases manageable for tenants. 

As a landlord, it’s important to understand the limits on how much you can raise rent and the notice requirements to stay compliant with the law.

By following these guidelines, you can maintain a fair and stable rental environment for your tenants while still adjusting to changing market conditions. 

Whether you’re renting out a single-family home or an apartment, staying informed will help you navigate these rules smoothly.

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