Cities and states vary in how they view a "reasonable" and "unreasonable" rent increase, but most municipalities agree that rent jumps should coincide with the inflation rate.
New York's S3082 states that an increase above 3 percent or 150 percent of the Consumer Price Index —whichever is greater— is considered unreasonable. However, the bill does not state that an increase below those amounts is presumed to be reasonable. Therefore, tenants would be free to challenge a rent increase they consider unfair.