Nebraska rent increase law

The Act, read whole, sets no notice period and no limit for rent increases, so during a fixed term the rent is what the lease says. You may not raise rent to retaliate against a tenant for a housing code complaint or for joining a tenants' union.

Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 76-1401 to 76-1449 Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1439(1)

• To end a month-to-month tenancy, either side gives written notice at least 30 days before the periodic rental date named in the notice. Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1437(2)
• Reasonable rent increases remain permitted even after a protected complaint or union activity. Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1439(2)
• Keep the separate Mobile Home Landlord and Tenant Act distinct from the ordinary residential Act. Section 76-1490 requires written notice of any rent increase, by actual notice or United States mail, at least 60 days before it takes effect. That Act defines a tenant as a mobile-home owner renting space in a mobile home park, and expressly excludes a person renting the mobile home itself. Do not treat this as a universal 60-day rule for every house, apartment or monthly room rental. Confirm coverage and the actual lease before choosing a notice period. Neb. Rev. Stat. 76-1450 Neb. Rev. Stat. 76-1490 Neb. Rev. Stat. 76-1471

Nebraska law generally bars cities, villages, counties and their agencies or subdivisions from imposing rent controls on private property. Section 13-331 preserves other express state-law permissions and exceptions for affordable-housing land-use or inclusionary requirements and voluntary contractual programs. Check those exceptions before assuming a property has no rent restrictions.

Neb. Rev. Stat. 13-331

• The Act sets no rent amount limit; rent is set by the lease, or is the fair rental value if the lease sets none. Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1414(1), (2)
• The restriction applies despite a home-rule charter, and a conflicting ordinance is void. It does not apply to an ordinance increasing affordable-housing supply through land-use or inclusionary housing requirements, or a program that an owner voluntarily agrees by contract to join and that restricts rent or increases. Review the actual program agreement and local rules; this selected statute review did not examine any city or county code. Neb. Rev. Stat. 13-331(2) to (5)

You may not retaliate by raising rent, cutting services, or bringing or threatening an eviction because the tenant complained to a government code enforcement agency about a violation materially affecting health and safety, or organized or joined a tenants' union. The Act sets no time window, so the protection is not limited to a set number of months.

Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1439(1)

• A tenant who suffers retaliation may recover possession or end the lease and collect three months' periodic rent as liquidated damages plus a reasonable attorney's fee, and has a defense to your eviction case. Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1439(2) Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1430
• Reasonable rent increases or changes in services remain permitted. Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1439(2)
• You may still sue for possession if the tenant or the tenant's household or guests mainly caused the code violation through lack of reasonable care, the tenant is behind on rent, or the code repairs would require work that deprives the tenant of the unit. Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1439(3)