Ontario Rent Increases Capped at 2.1% in 2026—Know Your Rights
Ontario's 2026 rent increase guideline is set at 2.1%, the lowest in four years. Tenants living in older units have strong protection, but newer apartments built after November 2018 face no limit—landlords can raise rent by any amount.
The Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing has set the 2026 rent increase guideline at 2.1%, the maximum a landlord can legally raise rent in a 12-month period without approval from the Landlord and Tenant Board.
The November 15, 2018 Dividing Line
Ontario's rent control system depends entirely on when your unit was first occupied:
- Older units (occupied before Nov 15, 2018): The most your landlord can raise your rent is 2.1%, the provincial guideline set each year by the Ontario government—on a $2,000 rent, that's a maximum increase of $42 a month.
- Newer units (first occupied after Nov 15, 2018): Units first occupied after November 15, 2018 are exempt from rent control. Landlords of these newer units can raise rent by any amount as long as they provide proper 90-day written notice using the official Form N1.
Landlord Notice Requirements
A landlord must provide a minimum of 90 days' written notice using the proper LTB form (usually Form N1 or N2), and rent can only be increased once every 12 months. Verbal, text, or email notices are not legally valid.
If you live in a newer apartment and receive an unlimited increase notice, that is legal in Ontario—but it's worth knowing in advance. If you receive a notice that exceeds 2.1% on an older unit, document it carefully: many increases are unlawful, and you have the right to dispute them at the Landlord and Tenant Board. Newcomers should ask their landlord or building manager which category their unit falls into—it's a conversation worth having before signing or renewing a lease.
Sources
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