In Ontario, landlords can only raise the rent once every 12 months of tenancy, and they must give you 90 days’ written notice using the official N1 form. The notice has to include the date the increase starts and the new rent amount. If any of this is missing or the timing is off, the increase may not be valid.
Many rental units are rent‑controlled, which means the increase must follow the Ontario government’s annual guideline (for example, 2.1% for 2026, and 2027 is unknown at this time but typically between 2-3%). Some units are not rent‑controlled, usually because they were first occupied as a rental after November 15, 2018; these units still require an N1 and 12 months between increases, but there’s no cap on the percentage. If you’re unsure which rules apply to your unit, the Off‑Campus Living Advisors can help you review your lease and understand your rights and responsibilities as tenant in the province of Ontario.
If you ever receive a rent increase that doesn’t seem right, reach out and we can chat about it.