Ontario rent increase guideline: 2026 and 2027
The guideline is the most that most landlords can raise the rent without applying to the Landlord and Tenant Board.
General information, not legal advice. Use the official Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) forms and the Residential Tenancies Act as the authority. Results are estimates; check the official sources below.
Updated 2026-11-01: The Residential Tenancies Act changes from Bill 60 (Fighting Delays, Building Faster Act, 2025) that took effect on September 21, 2026 did not change the rent increase rules on this page: the guideline, the 12-month rule, 90 days' written notice and Forms N1, N2 and N10 stay the same. The changes are mainly about evictions: an N4 for unpaid rent can now set a termination date 7 days after the notice is given (it was 14), and the LTB updated forms such as the N12, L1 and L2 (older versions are not accepted after November 30, 2026). See our N4 guide and N12 guide.
Key numbers
- 2026: 2.1%.
- 2027: 1.9%.
- The guideline is capped at 2.5%.
- Use the guideline for the year the increase takes effect.
Guideline since 2021
| Year | Guideline |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 0% |
| 2022 | 1.2% |
| 2023 | 2.5% |
| 2024 | 2.5% |
| 2025 | 2.5% |
| 2026 | 2.1% |
| 2027 | 1.9% |
2021 was 0% because of the COVID-19 rent freeze; otherwise it would have been 1.5% (ontario.ca).
To raise the rent legally
- Wait at least 12 months since the last increase or the start of the tenancy.
- Give written notice on the proper LTB form (Form N1 for most units).
- Serve it at least 90 days before the increase; if you mail it, allow 5 more days.
- To go above the guideline, use a signed N10 agreement or apply to the LTB (Form L5).
Units the guideline does not limit
- New buildings, additions and most new basement apartments first occupied for residential purposes after November 15, 2018.
- These units still need at least 90 days' written notice on the proper form.
Open the rent increase calculator
Renting outside Ontario? See rent increase rules by province for 2026.
Official sources
Rules last checked against these sources on 2026-11-01.