Before you read
Test yourself first: 5 questions
Question 1 of 5
Rent control or rent stabilization laws (where enacted):
Answer: A. Rent regulation caps rent increases and adds tenant protections in jurisdictions that adopt it; most areas have none.
Question 2 of 5
After a tenant reports code violations to the city, the landlord serves a notice doubling the rent at renewal. This is most likely:
Answer: B. Adverse action shortly after a tenant exercises legal rights (code complaints, organizing) is presumed RETALIATION in most states and is unlawful — independent of rent-control rules.
Question 3 of 5
Under a gross lease, the tenant typically:
Answer: A. In a gross lease the tenant pays a flat rent and the landlord covers operating expenses. In a net lease the tenant pays some or all of those expenses.
Question 4 of 5
A tenant with 8 months left transfers the full remaining term to a coworker, who pays rent directly to the landlord. The original tenant has made:
Answer: B. Transferring the ENTIRE remainder = ASSIGNMENT. The original tenant stays secondarily liable unless the landlord grants a release/novation. (Consent requirements depend on the lease — the question states no such clause.)
Question 5 of 5
In a triple-net (NNN) lease, the tenant pays:
Answer: A. In a triple-net lease the tenant covers the 'three nets' — taxes, insurance, and maintenance — on top of base rent. Common in commercial leasing.
Keep the streak going with more questions like these, each with a full rationale.
What you need to know
Vacancy decontrol often lets rent reset between tenants. Where they exist, these rules are police-power regulations that survive property sales, and managers must track notice periods (e.g., longer notice for large increases) and relocation-assistance triggers. On the national exam, know the concept and that it's STATE/LOCAL law; on state portions, know your jurisdiction's specifics. Retaliation against tenants who report code violations is separately illegal everywhere.
Rent Control & Tenant Protections: FAQs
Is Rent Control & Tenant Protections on the real estate exam?
Yes. Leasing & Property Management is a scored domain on the real estate licensing exam, and this topic appears in the national portion.
Is this cheat sheet free?
Yes — every page on Cinna RE's resource library is free to read, print and share. The app adds practice questions, mock exams and a readiness score.
