Plain-language overview
For most rental units in Ontario, a landlord who wants to raise the rent generally must give the tenant at least 90 days' written notice on the proper form, and generally cannot raise the rent more than once every 12 months. A rent increase that skips these steps may not be valid — but a tenant should get advice before deciding to ignore any notice.
Most units are also covered by Ontario's annual rent increase guideline, which caps how much the rent can go up each year without special approval. The government publishes the guideline percentage every year. A landlord who wants more than the guideline generally must apply to the Landlord and Tenant Board for an above-guideline increase, and the tenant can respond at that hearing.
There is a major exception: many units first occupied as residential rentals after November 15, 2018 are generally exempt from the guideline cap. For those units the landlord may raise rent by more than the guideline, though the 90-day notice and once-per-12-months rules still generally apply. Whether your unit falls into this exemption is a factual question worth confirming.
Paying an increased amount can matter legally. In some circumstances, paying a raised rent without objection for a period of time may affect a tenant's ability to challenge it later. If you believe an increase may be improper, it is worth getting advice from a legal clinic quickly rather than waiting.
RTO Pro's Rent Increase Checker can help you compare a notice against the current guideline, but it cannot decide whether a notice is valid — only the LTB can do that, and a qualified legal professional should review anything you plan to rely on.
Common warning signs
None of these prove anything on their own — but they are worth noticing and writing down when they happen.
- A rent increase announced verbally, by text, or in a letter that is not an official notice form.
- Less than 90 days between the notice and the date the new rent is supposed to start.
- More than one rent increase within a 12-month period.
- An increase above the published guideline for a unit that may be guideline-covered, with no mention of LTB approval.
- New or increased charges dressed up as "fees" — parking, laundry, or "administration" — that may function as rent increases.
- Pressure to sign a new lease at higher rent partway through your current term.
- Threats of eviction if you do not agree to pay more than the notice allows.
Facts that matter
These are the details a legal clinic, representative, or the Landlord and Tenant Board will usually want to know. Pinning them down early makes every later step easier.
- The exact date you received the notice and the date the increase is supposed to take effect.
- The date of your last rent increase, if any.
- Your current lawful rent and what is included in it (utilities, parking, storage).
- When the unit was first occupied as a residential rental — this can determine whether the guideline cap applies.
- Whether the notice is on an official form and whether it is filled out completely.
- Whether the landlord has applied to the LTB for an above-guideline increase.
- Whether you have paid any of the increased amount, and for how long.
Evidence to preserve
Preserve originals — never edit photos, messages, or documents. The Evidence Vault and Timeline tools are built for exactly this.
- The rent increase notice itself — every page, front and back, plus the envelope if there is one.
- Proof of when and how you received the notice (date stamps, photos, delivery messages).
- Your lease and any renewals or amendments showing the rent history.
- Rent payment records: receipts, e-transfers, cancelled cheques, or bank statements.
- Any earlier rent increase notices you have received in this unit.
- Messages from the landlord about rent, fees, or the increase.
- Notes on any verbal statements about the increase, with dates and who was present.
Possible official processes
Depending on your facts, one or more of these processes may apply. Whether and how to use them is a decision worth making with a qualified legal professional — deadlines and exceptions may apply.
A landlord seeking more than the guideline for a covered unit generally must apply to the LTB for an above-guideline increase; tenants are generally notified and can participate in that process.
A tenant who believes they were charged an unlawful rent or unlawful fees can generally apply to the LTB to recover money. Limitation periods generally apply, so timing matters.
If a landlord applies to evict for non-payment based on a disputed increase, the validity of the increase may be examined at the hearing — this is a situation where legal help is strongly recommended.
Urgent exceptions
Act quickly if this applies
Act quickly if this applies
Important exceptions
Almost every rule above has exceptions. These are the ones most likely to change the picture — a qualified legal professional should confirm how they apply to your situation.
- Units first occupied as residential rentals after November 15, 2018 are generally exempt from the annual guideline cap, though notice rules still generally apply.
- The LTB may approve increases above the guideline in limited circumstances, such as certain major capital work — approval comes with its own rules and tenant protections.
- A landlord and tenant may in some cases agree to a rent increase in exchange for an extra service or facility — these agreements have specific rules and can sometimes be undone within a set period.
- Different rules can apply in care homes, mobile home parks, and social or subsidized housing where rent is geared to income.
Official sources
Related tools
Tools that help you document, track, and organize this kind of issue.
This is legal information, not legal advice. RTO Pro is not a law firm. Deadlines and exceptions may apply to your situation — a qualified legal professional should confirm anything important before you rely on it.