Ontario renter guide
Rent increases in Ontario: 2026 rules, limits, and your rights
Last verified: July 14, 2026. Last updated: .
The short answer: in 2026, most Ontario rentals fall under the provincial rent increase guideline of 2.1%. Your landlord must give you at least 90 days' written notice on the official form, and can only raise your rent once every 12 months. If your unit was first occupied after November 15, 2018, the 2.1% cap does not apply to it, but the notice and timing rules still do.
How much can my rent go up in 2026?
If your unit is rent-controlled, the most your landlord can raise your rent in 2026 without special permission is 2.1%. That's the provincial guideline, set each year by the Ontario government. On a $2,000 rent, that's a maximum increase of $42 a month.
The guideline applies to rent increases that take effect during 2026. The 2027 guideline has already been announced at 1.9%, so an increase taking effect on or after January 1, 2027 falls under that number instead.
Want to raise it more than the guideline? A landlord can't just decide to. They have to apply to the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) for an Above Guideline Increase (AGI), and the LTB decides whether to allow it. If you receive notice of an AGI application, you'll have the chance to respond through the LTB process.
Is your unit rent-controlled? The November 15, 2018 rule
Rent control in Ontario is tied to the building, not the tenant. The golden rule is the November 15, 2018 cutoff:
- Rent-controlled: if anyone lived in the unit for residential purposes on or before November 15, 2018, it's rent-controlled. Increases are capped at the guideline (2.1% for 2026).
- Not rent-controlled: if the unit was occupied for the very first time after November 15, 2018, it's exempt from the cap. The landlord can raise the rent by any amount, as long as they still give 90 days' written notice and wait 12 months between increases.
Does rent control apply to basement apartments?
This catches a lot of renters. The cutoff applies to the specific unit, not the building around it. If you live in a house built decades ago, but your basement apartment was newly created and rented out for the first time in 2020, that basement unit is not rent-controlled, even though the rest of the house might be.
How can I check when my unit was first occupied?
If your landlord claims your unit is exempt and hands you a big increase, you don't have to take their word for it:
- Ask for proof. Request the building or occupancy permits showing when the unit was completed and first lived in.
- Check property records. Your municipality's building or zoning department can tell you when residential permits were closed.
- Ask long-term neighbours when the building or unit first opened.
If you believe the landlord is claiming the exemption to raise your rent illegally, you can file an A9 application with the LTB to have it officially determine whether your unit is rent-controlled.
What rules must every rent increase follow?
These apply to every rental in Ontario, rent-controlled or not:
- 90 days' written notice, on the proper LTB form (usually an N1, or an N2 for exempt units).
- Once every 12 months at most.
An increase that skips these steps isn't valid. If you receive one, you can raise it with your landlord in writing and, if needed, take it to the LTB.
Can my landlord raise the rent because someone moved in?
No. A landlord cannot increase your rent or charge extra fees because a partner or roommate moved into your unit. The only exception is subsidized or rent-geared-to-income (RGI) housing, where rent is calculated from household income.
Frequently asked questions
How much notice is required for a rent increase?
A landlord must provide a minimum of 90 days' written notice using the proper LTB form (usually Form N1 or N2). Rent can only be increased once every 12 months.
How much can my landlord raise my rent?
For rent-controlled units (first occupied on or before November 15, 2018), the 2026 limit is the 2.1% guideline unless the LTB approves an Above Guideline Increase. Units first occupied after that date have no cap, but the 90-day notice and 12-month spacing rules still apply.
How do I know if my apartment is rent-controlled?
If anyone lived in your unit on or before November 15, 2018, it's rent-controlled. If it was first occupied after that date, it's exempt from the guideline cap.
Does rent control apply to basement apartments?
It depends on when the basement unit itself was first occupied, not the house. A new basement apartment first rented in 2020 is exempt, even in an older house.
Can my landlord raise my rent if my partner or a roommate moves in?
No. Rent can't go up because another person moves in, except in subsidized (RGI) housing where rent is based on household income.
Sources
- Ontario's rent increase guideline (ontario.ca)
- Landlord and Tenant Board: forms and notices (tribunalsontario.ca)
- Ontario's guide to the standard lease (ontario.ca)
Direct links to the Residential Tenancies Act, the Landlord and Tenant Board, and the Ontario Standard Lease are on our RTA resources page.
Moving because of an increase you can't absorb? Browse rentals by city or read the guide to breaking a lease in Ontario.
The information provided on Tenant.ca is for educational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. Landlord and tenant matters in Ontario are governed by the Residential Tenancies Act (RTA) and adjudicated by the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB). Please consult the LTB or a legal professional for guidance on your specific situation.