How much can a landlord increase rent in Canada in 2026?

It depends on the province. Ontario''s 2026 rent increase guideline is 2.5% for rent-controlled units. BC''s 2026 maximum is 3.0%. Quebec has annual guidelines set by the Tribunal administratif du logement. Alberta and Saskatchewan have no rent cap — landlords can raise rent to any amount with proper notice.

How much notice does a landlord have to give before raising rent?

Most provinces require at least 3 months written notice before a rent increase. Ontario requires 90 days. BC requires 3 months. Alberta requires 3 months. Quebec requires 3 months before the lease renewal. Always check your specific province as rules differ.

Can a landlord raise rent as much as they want in Ontario?

Only for units first occupied after November 15, 2018. These are exempt from Ontario''s rent increase guideline and landlords can raise rent to any amount with 90 days written notice. Units first occupied before that date are subject to the annual guideline — 2.5% for 2026.

What happens if my landlord raises rent above the guideline?

In rent-controlled provinces like Ontario and BC, you can file a complaint with the tenancy authority. In Ontario, file a T3 application with the Landlord and Tenant Board. The landlord must repay any above-guideline increase they were not approved for. You are not required to pay an illegal rent increase.

Can a landlord raise rent when I renew my lease?

Lease renewal does not automatically allow a rent increase above the guideline in rent-controlled provinces. In Ontario, for example, you retain your tenant rights even if your fixed-term lease converts to month-to-month. The landlord must follow the notice and guideline rules regardless of what the new lease document says.

Rent Increase Rules by Province in Canada (2026)

Knowing your province’s rent increase rules can save you hundreds of dollars a year — and prevent you from paying an illegal increase out of ignorance.

2026 rent increase rules by province

Ontario

Rule	Detail
Rent increase guideline (2026)	2.5%
Units covered	Built or first occupied before November 15, 2018
Units exempt from guideline	Built or first occupied on/after November 15, 2018 — no cap
Required notice	90 days written notice
How often	Maximum once per 12 months
Above-guideline increases	Possible only with LTB approval (for major capital repairs)

Ontario’s rent increase guideline applies to the vast majority of older rental units. If your unit was first occupied before November 15, 2018, your landlord cannot raise your rent by more than 2.5% in 2026.

British Columbia

Rule	Detail
Maximum increase (2026)	3.0%
Units covered	All residential rentals
Required notice	3 months written notice on prescribed form
How often	Maximum once per 12 months

BC’s rent increase cap applies to all residential tenancies — there is no new-construction exemption equivalent to Ontario’s. The landlord must use the prescribed form (RTB-7) and cannot simply send a text or email.

Alberta

Rule	Detail
Rent cap	None — no restriction on the amount of increase
Required notice	3 months written notice
How often	Once per 12 months (or once per tenancy term for fixed leases)

Alberta landlords can raise rent to market rate with proper notice. There is no limit on how much the increase can be. However, they cannot increase mid-lease on a fixed-term agreement — only at renewal.

Quebec

Rule	Detail
Guideline	Annual guidelines published by the Tribunal administratif du logement (TAL)
Required notice	Sent with lease renewal notice — 3 to 6 months before lease end
Tenant’s right	You can refuse the increase and the landlord must apply to the TAL
Process	Landlord sends renewal with proposed increase; tenant has 1 month to accept, refuse, or not renew

In Quebec, the TAL publishes annual increase percentages for different building types. If your landlord proposes more than the guideline, you can refuse and they must either accept your refusal or apply to the TAL for authorization. Many tenants successfully hold increases to the guideline by simply refusing.

Manitoba

Rule	Detail
Rent cap	Annual guideline set by government (varies — typically CPI-based)
Required notice	3 months written notice
Exemptions	Some newer units may be exempt

Saskatchewan

Rule	Detail
Rent cap	None
Required notice	1 month written notice for month-to-month, or at lease renewal
How often	Once per year maximum

Nova Scotia

Rule	Detail
Rent cap	Annual cap in effect — check current year’s guideline
Required notice	4 months written notice
How often	Once per year

New Brunswick

Rule	Detail
Rent cap	None for most units; some social housing has caps
Required notice	3 months written notice
How often	Once per lease period

What a valid rent increase notice must include

In all provinces, a rent increase notice must be:

In writing (verbal notices are not valid)
Sent with sufficient advance notice (90 days in Ontario; 3 months in BC; 3 months in Alberta)
Specific about the new amount or percentage

A text message, verbal statement, or notice without the required lead time does not constitute valid notice in most provinces.

What you can do if your landlord exceeds the rent cap

In Ontario

Do not pay the above-guideline increase. File a T3 – Application to Have the Rent Increased by More Than the Guideline reviewed at the LTB. If no above-guideline increase was approved, you owe only the guideline amount.

In BC

File a dispute with the Residential Tenancy Branch. If the increase exceeds 3.0% without authorization, it is invalid.

In Alberta / Saskatchewan / New Brunswick

No statutory cap applies — if you received 3 months written notice, the increase is likely valid. Your options are to negotiate, accept, or give notice to vacate.

In Quebec

Respond in writing within one month of receiving the renewal notice, stating you refuse the proposed increase. The landlord must then apply to the TAL or accept your refusal.

Rent increases at renewal — a common misunderstanding

In Ontario and BC, signing a new fixed-term lease does not reset your rent or allow a larger increase. The guideline and notice rules still apply. If your landlord presents you with a new lease showing a higher rent than the guideline permits, you do not have to sign it.

Key takeaway

Know your province’s 2026 rent increase limit and notice requirements before they become relevant. If you receive a rent increase notice, check the amount against the guideline for your area, verify the notice period was met, and respond in writing if you are exercising any right to dispute.

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