Quick answer
Check lease timing, required notice, regulation, and any applicable local protection before assuming the increase is valid.
Do now
Gather the lease, rent history, increase notice, and property/unit information. In NJ, check municipal rules; in NY, check regulation and Good Cause eligibility; in DC, check registration, exemption, and current rent-control guidance.
Watch for
There is no universal NJ/NY/DC percentage cap. Do not use an old annual DC figure or assume every NY rental is protected by Good Cause.
Official sources
NJ DCA — Truth in Renting, NY Attorney General — Residential Tenants’ Rights Guide, NY Attorney General — Good Cause Eviction Law, DC OTA — Revised Tenant Bill of Rights Announcement.
