Montgomery County Sets Voluntary Rent Guideline at 1.4 percent

For Immediate Release: Friday, February 5, 2021

Under requirements of County law, the Voluntary Rent Guideline (VRG) is updated annually to represent the prior year increase in the rental component of the Consumer Price Index for the Washington Metropolitan Area. Based on that, the VRG for Montgomery County is set at 1.4 percent, starting Feb. 5, 2021.

The COVID-19 Renter Relief Act of 2020 prohibits landlords from notifying tenants of a rent increase greater than the VRG during the COVID-19 emergency and for 90 days after the emergency ends.

This means that, beginning Feb. 5 and continuing for 90 days after the COVID-19 emergency ends, landlords must not notify tenants of a rent increase greater than 1.4 percent.

Prior to Feb. 5, any notices of rent increase during the COVID-19 emergency were limited to 2.6 percent. A notice of rent increase provided to the tenant at least 90 days in advance may take effect if it meets these and other requirements. 

This limit on rent increase notices applies to all licensed residential rentals in Montgomery County, including rental units in multifamily buildings, houses, townhouses, individual condominium units, and accessory dwelling units.

For more information, see the Summary of COVID-19 Renter Relief Act or Explanatory Scenarios Regarding the COVID-19 Renter Relief Act.  

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Release ID: 21-084
Media Contact: Lorraine Driscoll 240-461-5497