Rent Increases in Nebraska: What Are My Rights?

1. Read your lease for the rent amount and any term about changing rent. Keep a copy of every letter or message your landlord sends about rent.

   RenterLaw editorial

2. In Nebraska, a landlord and renter may put rent, the length of the agreement, and other terms in the rental agreement. The terms must not be prohibited by the Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act or other rule of law.

   Nebraska Legislature Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1414(1)

   ✓ Sources checked October 2, 2026

3. If the landlord and renter have not agreed on rent, the renter pays the fair rental value for using and occupying the home.

   Nebraska Legislature Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1414(2)

   ✓ Sources checked October 2, 2026

4. In Nebraska, unless the rental agreement fixes a definite term, the rental is month to month. For a roomer who pays weekly rent, it is week to week.

   Nebraska Legislature Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1414(4)

   ✓ Sources checked October 2, 2026

5. A Nebraska landlord may not do three things after you take certain steps. The landlord may not raise your rent, cut services, or bring or threaten an eviction case (an action for possession). The steps: you complain to a government agency about a building or housing code violation that materially affects health and safety. Or you join a tenants' union. For very bad conditions, an inspector can condemn the home and make everyone leave. The law lists cases where the landlord may still act.

   RenterLaw editorial Nebraska Legislature Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1439(1)

   ✓ Sources checked October 2, 2026

6. Say you complain to a government agency about a building or housing code violation that materially affects health and safety. After that, your Nebraska landlord may not bring an eviction case (an action for possession). The landlord may not threaten one. The same is true after you join a tenants' union. For very bad conditions, an inspector can condemn the home and make everyone leave. The law lists cases where the landlord may still act.

   RenterLaw editorial Nebraska Legislature Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1439(1)

   ✓ Sources checked October 2, 2026

7. Say you report a violation of the building or housing code to a government agency. It materially affects health and safety. After that, your Nebraska landlord may not raise your rent or cut services. The landlord may not bring or threaten an eviction case. An inspector can condemn a home in very bad shape and make everyone leave.

   RenterLaw editorial Nebraska Legislature Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1439(1)

   ✓ Sources checked October 2, 2026

8. Say you organize or join a tenants' union or similar group. Your Nebraska landlord then may not raise your rent, cut services, or bring or threaten an eviction case (an action for possession).

   Nebraska Legislature Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1439(1)

   ✓ Sources checked October 2, 2026

9. Section 76-1439 does not bar reasonable rent increases or changes in services. A landlord may make them even after you complain to a government agency about a code violation. The same is true after you join a tenants' union. For very bad conditions, an inspector can condemn the home and make everyone leave.

   RenterLaw editorial Nebraska Legislature Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1439(1)-(2)

   ✓ Sources checked October 2, 2026

10. Nebraska law lists cases where a landlord may still bring a possession case (a court case to take back the home). This holds even after you complain to a government agency about a code violation or join a tenants' union. One case is when you are behind on rent. Another is when you, someone in your household, or someone there with your consent mainly caused the violation by lack of reasonable care. A third is when code work would take away your use of the home. For very bad conditions, an inspector can condemn the home and make everyone leave.

    RenterLaw editorial Nebraska Legislature Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1439(1)-(3)

    ✓ Sources checked October 3, 2026

11. A Nebraska landlord may sue for possession (to take back the home) if meeting the code needs changes to the building, remodeling, or demolition. The work must effectively take away the renter's use of the home.

    Nebraska Legislature Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1439(3)

    ✓ Sources checked October 2, 2026

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