ExamPassOntario Rent Increase Calculator
Ontario's rent increase guideline is 2.1% for 2026 and 1.9% for 2027. A landlord can raise the rent only once every 12 months, and only after giving the tenant at least 90 days' written notice on the proper form. Units in a building first occupied for residential purposes after November 15, 2018 are exempt from the guideline, but the 12-month rule and the 90 days' notice still apply. Enter the rent and dates below for the earliest increase date and the most the rent can rise.
How does the calculator work?
Rent increase.
- 12-month rule. The increase can take effect no sooner than 12 months after the last increase, or after the tenancy began if there has been none (Residential Tenancies Act, 2006, s. 119(1)).
- 90 days' notice. Written notice at least 90 days before the increase takes effect (s. 116(1)). An increase without proper notice is void (s. 116(4)). A notice sent by mail is deemed given on the fifth day after mailing (s. 191(3)), so the calculator adds five days.
- Guideline. The most a rent-controlled unit can rise is the guideline for the calendar year the increase takes effect (s. 120). The guideline is capped at 2.5%.
- New units. If no part of the building (or the addition the unit is in) was occupied for residential purposes on or before November 15, 2018, the guideline does not apply (s. 6.1(2)). A newer second unit in a house has its own test (s. 6.1(3)); choose "Not sure" and the calculator explains it.
N4 for non-payment of rent. For a notice given on or after September 21, 2026, the termination date can be no earlier than the 7th day after the notice is given, for every kind of tenancy (s. 59(1), as amended). For a notice given before that date, the earlier rule applied: 7 days for a daily or weekly tenancy and 14 days for all others.
Last month's rent deposit. The landlord pays the tenant interest on the deposit every year at the guideline in effect when the interest is due (s. 106(6)).
| Year | Guideline |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 2.5% |
| 2026 | 2.1% |
| 2027 | 1.9% |
Worked example: a Sudbury apartment
Gabriel rents an apartment in Sudbury in a building from the 1980s for $2,350 a month. His rent last went up on March 1, 2025. His landlord hands him a notice on October 18, 2026.
| Step | Working | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 12 months after the last increase | from March 1, 2025 | March 1, 2026 |
| 90 days after notice | from October 18, 2026 | January 16, 2027 |
| Earliest effective date | the later of the two | Saturday, January 16, 2027 |
| Guideline for 2027 | 1.9% | |
| Most the rent can rise | $2,350 × 1.9% | $44.65 |
| Highest new rent | $2,394.65 |
Gabriel's last month's rent deposit of $2,350 also earns interest at the guideline in effect when the interest is due: $44.65 for a payment due in 2027.
Frequently asked questions
Can a landlord raise the rent more than the guideline?
Only in limited cases: with the Landlord and Tenant Board's approval of an above-guideline increase, or under an agreement the Act allows (for example, for an added service). This calculator does not cover those cases.
Does the 90-day notice apply to a new building?
Yes. The exemption for units first occupied after November 15, 2018 removes the guideline cap, not the notice rule or the 12-month rule.
Is this on the real estate exam?
Course 3 covers residential leasing, including rent increases, deposits and termination notices, and Simulation 1 includes a lease. Our N4 notice guide explains the non-payment process in more detail.