Ontario Rent Increase Rules (2026)
Most units are rent-controlled: one increase per 12 months, capped at the provincial guideline, with 90 days' written notice on the prescribed form. Units first occupied after Nov 15 2018 are exempt from the guideline cap.
Governing law: Residential Tenancies Act, 2006, s. 116–120
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The annual guideline
Ontario sets a rent-increase guideline each calendar year (the 2025 guideline was 2.5%). For 2026, confirm the published figure with the Ministry — it is announced the prior summer. You may not exceed it without an LTB above-guideline order.
Once every 12 months
Rent may rise only once in any 12-month period, and not within the first 12 months of the tenancy.
90 days' written notice
Use Form N1 (or N2/N3 for special cases) and give at least 90 days' notice before the increase takes effect.
The post-2018 exemption
Units first occupied for residential purposes after November 15, 2018 are exempt from the guideline cap — the landlord may raise rent by any amount, but still must give 90 days' notice and only once per 12 months.
Above-guideline increases
For capital expenditures, security costs, or large municipal tax hikes, a landlord can apply to the LTB for an above-guideline increase. It must be approved before it can be charged.
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