Mexico City Rent Increase Limit: How the Inflation Cap Works
Since August 2024 the Civil Code ties home rent increases to inflation, and the Supreme Court upheld the rule in 2026. The math, the lease registry and your options.
In Mexico City, the yearly rent increase on a home cannot exceed the previous year’s inflation as reported by Banco de México, under Article 2448 D of the city’s Civil Code as reformed in August 2024. For increases applied in 2026, that ceiling is 3.69%, the annual inflation rate for December 2025.
What does the Mexico City rent law say?
The reform was published in the Gaceta Oficial de la Ciudad de México on August 28, 2024 and took effect the next day. Before it, Article 2448 D allowed increases of up to 10% of the monthly rent. The new text says the increase on rent for housing will never be greater than the inflation reported by Banco de México for the previous year, applied to the agreed monthly rent.
The same reform changed Article 2448 F to create a digital registry of leases run by the Mexico City government. Landlords must register each contract within 30 days of signing it. The law says the registry cannot be made public except by court order.
In February 2026, Mexico’s Supreme Court of Justice (SCJN) upheld the inflation cap against legal challenges from property owners. In the same case it validated the registry while limiting the personal data the city may collect.
How do you calculate the maximum increase?
Multiply your current monthly rent by the previous year’s annual inflation rate. INEGI measured annual inflation of 3.69% for December 2025, the figure used for 2026 increases. As of November 2026, that gives:
| Current monthly rent | Maximum increase (3.69%) | Maximum new rent |
|---|---|---|
| MXN 15,000 | MXN 553.50 | MXN 15,553.50 |
| MXN 20,000 | MXN 738 | MXN 20,738 |
| MXN 30,000 | MXN 1,107 | MXN 31,107 |
Increases in 2027 will use the inflation figure for December 2026, published in early January 2027. Banco de México reports annual inflation on its site, and it is the source the law names.
Which rentals does the cap cover?
The cap in Article 2448 D applies to leases of property used as a home in Mexico City. Commercial premises such as shops and offices are outside it. Furnished apartments rented for long stays under a housing lease fall inside it; how the rule applies to very short platform stays is less clear, and those are governed by separate city rules on short-term rentals.
The cap limits the yearly increase within an ongoing lease relationship. When a lease ends and a landlord rents to a new tenant, the starting price is set by agreement. If your landlord offers a new contract at a much higher rent to the same tenant, ask a lawyer whether that counts as an increase under the law.
What can tenants do if the increase is too high?
- Check your lease for the increase clause and the date it applies.
- Calculate the legal maximum with the current inflation figure.
- Reply in writing, by email or message you can keep, citing Article 2448 D of the Civil Code for Mexico City and the amount you calculate.
- Keep paying on time by bank transfer, so the record shows you are not in arrears.
- If the landlord insists, seek legal advice. Disputes over leases go to the civil courts of Mexico City, which also run a public mediation service through their Centro de Justicia Alternativa.
This article explains the rule and is not legal advice. A lawyer or the courts decide individual cases, and the outcome depends on your contract and facts.
What does the lease registry mean for you?
The registry duty falls on the landlord, not the tenant. Ask your landlord whether the contract has been registered, and keep your signed copy either way. Under Article 2448 F, the landlord registers the contract within 30 days. A written lease therefore matters: it is what gets registered and what proves the agreed rent and the date of the last increase.
The city’s digital registry is run by the Mexico City government. Check cdmx.gob.mx for its current status and how landlords file. The Supreme Court’s 2026 ruling limited the data it may hold, and news reports said tenant data would not be part of it.
How does the cap fit into renting in Mexico City?
The cap protects sitting tenants from large yearly jumps, but it does not set the price of a new lease. Deposits, guarantors and the legal policies landlords use are covered in our guide to renting an apartment in Mexico City, and the address checks worth doing before you sign are in our guide to the Mexico City risk atlas.
Bottom line
Note the date your lease allows an increase, check the prior year’s December inflation when it is published in January, and answer any higher demand in writing with the calculation. Keep every payment by transfer and a signed copy of the lease.
FAQ
Is the 10% annual increase still legal in Mexico City?
No, not for housing. The 10% ceiling was replaced in August 2024 by the prior year’s inflation as reported by Banco de México.
Does the cap apply outside Mexico City?
No. It is part of the Civil Code for Mexico City. The State of Mexico and other states have their own civil codes.
Can the landlord raise the rent more than once a year?
The cap is set on a yearly basis. Check your contract for the agreed date of increase and ask a lawyer if a landlord tries to raise rent twice in twelve months.
