Guide
How rent increases work in Ontario and Manitoba
In both provinces, most landlords can raise the rent only once a year, only by a set percentage, and only after giving written notice. The rules are similar, but the notice period and the exceptions differ. Last checked October 26, 2026.
The short version
| Ontario | Manitoba | |
|---|---|---|
| 2027 guideline | 1.9% | 3% |
| Written notice | At least 90 days, in the proper form | At least 3 months |
| How often | In most cases, once 12 months have passed since move-in or the last increase | Once in 12 months, with few exceptions |
| Outside the guideline | Buildings first occupied after November 15, 2018, community housing, long-term care | Rents above a threshold ($2,000 from 2027), some buildings first occupied after March 2005, social housing, co-ops |
| Above-guideline increases | Landlord applies to the Landlord and Tenant Board | Landlord applies to the Residential Tenancies Branch; tenants can object |
What the guideline is
The guideline is the highest percentage a landlord can add to the rent for a covered unit in a year, without special approval. Each province sets it once a year using inflation. Ontario: Based on the Ontario Consumer Price Index (Statistics Canada), June to May, and capped at 2.5%. Manitoba: Based on the percentage change in the average annual "All-Items" Consumer Price Index for Manitoba (not seasonally adjusted, from Statistics Canada) under the Residential Rent Regulation, and kept within the Bank of Canada's 1% to 3% inflation-control range.
Which year’s guideline applies
The one for the year the new rent starts, not the year the notice is given. A notice sent in the autumn of 2026 for a January 1, 2027 increase uses the 2027 guideline.
A worked example
A unit rents for $1,200.00 a month and the new rent would start on January 1, 2027. The unit is covered by the guideline.
- Ontario: $1,200.00 × (1 + 1.9%) = $1,222.80 at most. Notice no later than October 3, 2026.
- Manitoba: $1,200.00 × (1 + 3%) = $1,236.00 at most. Notice no later than September 30, 2026.
Amounts are rounded to the nearest cent. Try your own numbers in the calculators below.
Steps for a landlord
- Check that the unit is covered by the guideline, and whether the last increase or the start of the tenancy was at least 12 months ago.
- Pick the date the new rent will start and look up the guideline for that year.
- Work out the highest new rent, and the latest date to give written notice.
- Give written notice in the proper form (in Ontario, Form N1), and if you send it by mail, add 5 days: Ontario treats a mailed notice as given on the fifth day after mailing.
- Keep a copy of the notice and proof of when and how it was given.
Things a tenant can check
- Is the notice in writing, in the proper form, and given early enough for the start date?
- Has the rent already gone up in the last 12 months?
- Is the new rent within the guideline for the year it starts? If the unit may be exempt, ask the tribunal or branch.
- Is it an increase above the guideline? That needs approval, and tenants have a chance to respond.
Common mistakes
- Using the guideline for the year the notice is given instead of the year the rent starts.
- Counting from the wrong date, or giving notice too late for the start date.
- Assuming a newer building or a higher-rent unit is always exempt, or always covered.
- Rounding the new rent up instead of to the nearest cent.
Frequently asked questions
Does the rent guideline apply to my unit?
Often, but not always. In Ontario, units first occupied after November 15, 2018 are outside the guideline. In Manitoba, higher-rent units, some newer buildings and some kinds of social housing are outside it. Use the calculators for a first check and ask the tribunal or branch to confirm.
Which guideline do I use if I give notice this year for next year?
Use the guideline for the year the new rent starts. A notice given in 2026 for a rent starting in 2027 uses the 2027 guideline.
What if the notice is late?
The increase cannot start on the date in the notice. The new rent would need a later start date, with proper notice. The calculators warn you when a planned notice date is too late.
Where to get help
- Ontario: Landlord and Tenant Board (Tribunals Ontario)
- Manitoba: Residential Tenancies Branch, 204-945-2476 (Winnipeg) or 1-800-782-8403 (toll-free in Manitoba)
General information only, not legal advice. See the Disclaimer. Sources are listed with each guideline on the calculator pages.