Find the most your landlord can raise your rent under provincial rent control. Ontario’s rent increase guideline is 2.1% for 2026 and 1.9% for 2027. British Columbia’s maximum allowable rent increase is 2.3% for 2026 and 2.2% for 2027. On a $2,000 monthly rent, an Ontario increase taking effect in 2027 can be at most $38, for a new rent of $2,038; in B.C. the 2027 limit is $44, for $2,044.
Rent Increase Calculator
Ontario guideline and B.C. maximum allowable increase for 2026 and 2027 · Updated October 13, 2026
- Increase allowed per month
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- Guideline for the year
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- Extra rent over 12 months
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- Written notice required
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Increases are rounded down to the cent. A landlord can raise the rent only once every 12 months. Larger increases need approval from the Landlord and Tenant Board (Ontario) or the Residential Tenancy Branch (B.C.).
2026 and 2027 rent increase limits
| Increase takes effect in | Ontario guideline | B.C. maximum |
|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 1.9% | 2.2% |
| 2026 | 2.1% | 2.3% |
| 2025 | 2.5% | 3.0% |
| 2024 | 2.5% | 3.5% |
The limit that applies is the one for the year the increase takes effect, not the year the notice is given. Ontario bases its guideline on the Ontario Consumer Price Index from June to May and caps it at 2.5%. B.C. ties its limit to the 12-month average change in the B.C. Consumer Price Index up to July of the previous year.
Rules in Ontario
- Rent can go up only if at least 12 months have passed since the tenancy started or since the last increase.
- The landlord must give written notice at least 90 days before the increase, on the proper Landlord and Tenant Board form.
- The guideline does not apply to units in new buildings, additions and most new basement apartments first occupied as homes after November 15, 2018; to community housing and long-term care homes; or when a new tenant moves in and agrees to a rent.
- In care homes, such as retirement homes, the guideline applies only to the rent, not to charges for meals, care or cleaning.
- A landlord can apply to the Board for an above-guideline increase, for example after major repairs or large rises in municipal taxes.
- If you were not given proper notice or were charged too much, you can dispute it at the Board within 12 months after the amount was first charged.
Rules in British Columbia
- Rent can go up only once every 12 months, counted from the date the rent was set at the start of the tenancy or last legally raised.
- The landlord must give three full months of written notice, on the Notice of Rent Increase form (RTB-7), stating the exact new amount and the date it starts.
- The landlord cannot round up the new rent, and an unused increase from an earlier year cannot be added later.
- Unlike Ontario, the limit does not depend on when the building was first occupied. Commercial tenancies, non-profit rent-geared-to-income housing, co-operatives and some assisted-living homes are not covered.
- Manufactured home park sites can go up by the same percentage plus a proportional share of increases in local government levies and regulated utility fees.
Examples
| Monthly rent | Ontario 2026 | Ontario 2027 | B.C. 2026 | B.C. 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $1,000 | $1,021.00 | $1,019.00 | $1,023.00 | $1,022.00 |
| $1,500 | $1,531.50 | $1,528.50 | $1,534.50 | $1,533.00 |
| $2,000 | $2,042.00 | $2,038.00 | $2,046.00 | $2,044.00 |
| $2,500 | $2,552.50 | $2,547.50 | $2,557.50 | $2,555.00 |
| $3,000 | $3,063.00 | $3,057.00 | $3,069.00 | $3,066.00 |
FAQ
Can my landlord raise the rent twice in one year?
No. In both Ontario and B.C., an increase can take effect only if at least 12 months have passed since the last one or since the tenancy began.
My increase starts on January 1, 2027. Which percentage applies?
The 2027 limit: 1.9% in Ontario or 2.2% in B.C. The limit is set by the year the new rent takes effect, even if you received the notice in 2026.
Does the guideline apply to a newer condo in Ontario?
Not if the unit was first occupied as a home after November 15, 2018. Those units are exempt from the guideline, but the landlord still has to wait 12 months between increases and give 90 days’ written notice.
Can a landlord charge more by giving a new lease to the same tenant?
No. A new or renewed agreement with the same tenant does not reset rent control. In Ontario the rent can be set freely only when a new tenant moves in, and in B.C. any increase for a tenant must stay within the annual limit.
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Sources
- Ontario: Residential rent increases · 2027 guideline 1.9%, history and exemptions
- Government of B.C.: Rent increases (Residential Tenancy Branch) · 2026 and 2027 limits, notice rules
- B.C. News: Maximum allowable rent increase set at 2.2% for 2027 · August 27, 2026
Figures current as of October 13, 2026
Each formula is checked against a separate test sheet with at least three worked examples. Results are estimates based on the numbers you enter and the published rules; your actual figures may differ. This is general information, not financial or tax advice.
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