Ontario 2026 Rent Guideline: Rates and Notice Procedure

Lease and Rental Management

By Devon Moore, Operations Lead

Ontario's Residential Tenancies Act sets an annual rent increase guideline that limits how much a landlord can raise rent for most residential tenants without Landlord and Tenant Board approval. For 2026, the guideline is 2.1%. See Ontario’s published rent-increase guidelines.

The guideline applies to most private residential rental units covered by the Residential Tenancies Act. Many newer buildings, additions and qualifying new units first occupied for residential purposes after November 15, 2018 are exempt from the guideline. The statutory conditions matter; a renovation date alone does not establish an exemption. Check Ontario’s rent-increase guidance for the applicable rules.

Ontario Tenancy Law

To apply a guideline increase, landlords must provide proper written notice using the prescribed N1 form at least 90 days before the increase takes effect. The increase can only happen once every 12 months per tenancy.

An above-guideline increase requires an eligible ground and an application to the Landlord and Tenant Board. Eligible grounds include extraordinary municipal taxes and charges, qualifying capital expenditures, and certain security-service costs. Not every increase in operating expenses qualifies. See the LTB’s current L5 instructions for the conditions and application requirements.

Protecting Landlord Rights

Failing to follow proper procedure can invalidate your rent increase. Common errors include: insufficient notice, incorrect form, or increasing rent more than once in 12 months. Always use the current N1 form from the LTB website.

If you're unsure about your rent increase rights and obligations, D&D Property Management handles all rent administration on behalf of our clients — ensuring every increase is properly documented and legally compliant.

Devon Moore, Operations Lead Co-Founder & Operations Lead — D&D Property Management

Devon Moore is the co-founder and Operations Lead at D&D Property Management, managing rental properties across Kitchener-Waterloo, Cambridge, Guelph and Waterloo Region.