Ontario LTB guide
How to increase rent in Ontario
By Steve Stavros Liadakis, Ontario landlord for 30+ years · Updated August 10, 2026
In Ontario you can raise a tenant's rent, but only once a year, only with proper written notice, and, for most units, only up to a limit the province sets each year. Here's how to do it correctly using Form N1, Notice of Rent Increase.
The short version
In Ontario you can raise the rent at most once every 12 months, and only after giving the tenant at least 90 days written notice on Form N1. For most units the increase is capped by the provincial guideline for the year the increase takes effect; units in buildings first occupied on or after November 15, 2018 have no percentage cap but follow the same notice rules. A larger increase for a capped unit needs a separate Above-Guideline Increase application to the LTB. If the notice is late or the amount is wrong, the increase may not be valid.
On this page
The three basic rules
- Once every 12 months. At least 12 months must pass between increases (and since the tenancy began).
- 90 days written notice, given on the proper form (the N1) before the increase date.
- Within the guideline, for most units (see below).
The rent increase guideline
Each year the Province publishes a rent increase guideline, a maximum percentage most landlords can raise rent without applying to the Board. The figure changes annually, so always check the current year's guideline before you set the new rent.
Units the guideline doesn't cap
Some units are exempt from the guideline, most notably those in buildings first occupied for residential use on or after November 15, 2018. For those, there's no percentage cap, but you still must use the N1, give 90 days notice, and respect the once-a-year rule.
Above-guideline increases
If a guideline-capped unit needs a larger increase, for example after major capital work or a big jump in property taxes, you can apply to the LTB for an Above-Guideline Increase (AGI). That's a separate application, not something you do with the N1 alone.
What a filled-in N1 looks like
A worked example, with fictional names and amounts. The tenant pays $1,999.00 and the increase takes effect 1 January 2027, so the 2027 guideline of 1.9% applies: $1,999.00 × 1.9% = $37.98, giving a new rent of $2,036.98.
- To (tenant name)
- Emily Chen
- From (landlord name)
- Maplewood Properties Inc.
- Address of the rental unit
- 58 Lakeview Cres, Unit 2, Toronto, ON M4E 2W7
- Current lawful rent
- $1,999.00 / month
- New rent
- $2,036.98 / month
- Effective (yyyy/mm/dd)
- 2027/01/01
- ✔at or below the rent increase guideline for 2027
- ☐more than the guideline, and the Board has ordered it (order number: ____________)
- ☐for a unit the guideline does not apply to
Note the two dates. The notice was given on 25 September 2026 for an increase effective 1 January 2027, 98 days, comfortably past the 90-day minimum. And the year that decides the percentage is the year the increase takes effect, not the year you serve the notice, which is why this one uses the 2027 figure. See the current and past guidelines.
Serving the N1
Fill out the N1 with the new rent and the date it takes effect, then give it to the tenant at least 90 days before that date, using an approved method. Keep a copy and a record of how you served it. If the notice is late or the amount is wrong, the increase may not be valid.
Frequently asked questions
How often can I raise the rent in Ontario?
Once every 12 months. At least 12 months must pass between rent increases, and since the tenancy began, and you must give the tenant at least 90 days' written notice on Form N1.
How much notice do I have to give for a rent increase in Ontario?
At least 90 days' written notice before the increase takes effect, given on the proper form, Form N1, Notice of Rent Increase. If the notice is late or the amount is wrong, the increase may not be valid.
Which year's guideline applies to my rent increase?
The year the increase takes effect, not the year you serve the notice. An N1 served in September 2026 for an increase effective January 1, 2027 uses the 2027 guideline.
Are any Ontario units exempt from the rent increase guideline?
Yes. Units in buildings first occupied for residential use on or after November 15, 2018 have no percentage cap. You still must use Form N1, give 90 days' notice, and raise the rent at most once every 12 months.
Can I raise the rent above the guideline in Ontario?
For a guideline-capped unit, only by applying to the Landlord and Tenant Board for an Above-Guideline Increase (AGI), for example after major capital work or a big jump in property taxes. That is a separate application, not something you do with the N1 alone.
Handle rent increases in Keystead
Keystead generates the N1, tracks each unit's last increase and the 12-month window, and applies the new rent automatically on its effective date, so the right amount is billed from the right month without you re-doing the math.
Start a free trialThis guide is general information, not legal advice, and the guideline and rules change. Confirm the current figure and requirements with the Landlord and Tenant Board or a licensed paralegal before serving a notice.
Keep reading
All guides →Rent increase guideline 2026 & 2027
2.1% for 2026 and 1.9% for 2027: what the guideline caps, which units are exempt, and the N1 timing.
Last month's rent deposit
The one-month limit, paying interest yearly, top-ups after a rent increase, and why damage deposits aren't allowed.
The Ontario standard lease
Who must use Form 2229E, what it covers, and what it can cost you if you don't provide it.