The Impact of Defining ‘Reasonable’ Rent Increases on Landlords

Setting a ‘reasonable’ increase for rent doesn’t merely impose a limitation on landlords; it creates a uniform standard across the board.

Published on June 3, 2026, by the Manhattan Institute’s City Journal, this article examines how urban policy evolves. The image captured by Spencer Platt on May 11, 2026, shows people passing by an apartment building in New York City’s East Village.

Being a small landlord in New York for over ten years has given me insight into this issue. I know my tenants personally. With most small landlords, the approach involved flexibility and discretion. Raising rent on dependable and friendly tenants was something I was hesitant to do.