While the early days of the pandemic saw many city dwellers leave for the suburbs and a subsequent drop in rental rates, realtor.com reports that many who remained – or returned – are now facing increases by as much as 40 percent.

Currently, some states have laws limiting how much rates can be increased in a given year, but many do not.

Some tenants are negotiating two-year leases to get a slight break, while others are offering a few months of rent upfront.