My rent went up: can they do that?
First, find out whether your province has a rent-increase guideline: some cap the amount, others cap only the notice. Second, check that the landlord followed the rules that always apply: proper written notice, and no more than one increase in a 12-month period. Third, if the increase exceeds the guideline or skips the process, your provincial tribunal is where it's challenged.
Two things are true in every province
Even where there is no cap on the amount, a rent increase still requires proper written notice and can generally happen only once in a 12-month period. A verbal increase, or a second increase within the year, is a problem regardless of your province.
The 2026 guidelines, by province
Provinces with a 2026 guideline
Ontario 2.1% (units first occupied before Nov 15, 2018; newer units exempt; the 2027 guideline is 1.9%). British Columbia 2.3%. Manitoba 1.8% (held in trust rules aside, the guideline caps the increase).
Quebec
The TAL sets an annual guideline (a new simplified calculation method applies since January 1, 2026), and a tenant can contest an increase at the TAL within one month of receiving the notice.
No cap on the amount
Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Newfoundland & Labrador have no rent control: the landlord may increase rent by any amount with proper written notice, once per year.
Nova Scotia & New Brunswick
Nova Scotia caps increases at 5% until December 31, 2027, for existing tenants and fixed-term renewals in the same unit (a new tenant’s first lease isn’t capped), with 4 months’ notice. New Brunswick caps them at 3% per 12 months, with above-guideline increases up to 9% possible only with approval, and landlords must give six months’ written notice before an increase.
Prince Edward Island
PEI has formal rent control: the Director of Residential Tenancy sets the 2026 allowable increase at 2% on all rental units. A landlord seeking more must file a Form 9 with the Rental Office; IRAC hears appeals of Rental Office decisions, it does not set the guideline.
Common Questions
How much can my rent go up in Ontario in 2026?
Ontario’s rent-increase guideline for 2026 is 2.1%, and the 2027 guideline is 1.9%. It applies to units first occupied before November 15, 2018; units built after that date are exempt from the guideline. An increase also requires proper written notice and can happen only once in a 12-month period.
Is there a limit on rent increases in Alberta?
No. Alberta has no rent control: a landlord may increase rent by any amount, with proper written notice, and no more than once per year. Saskatchewan and Newfoundland & Labrador similarly have no cap; the limit there is the notice, not the amount.
Can I dispute a rent increase?
Where a province has a guideline, an increase above it generally needs tribunal approval, and you can challenge one that doesn’t follow the rules. In Quebec, a tenant can contest an increase at the TAL within one month of receiving the notice. Start with your province’s tribunal, linked on this page.
More than one unit? The Landlord Pass
Prepare the rent increase notices on this page for every property you hold, with the dates checked against the province rule that governs each one, and an alert when one of them moves.
$16 a month or $149 a year. Single documents stay available without an account.
What the Pass doesWhere to go from here
Guidepost is not a law firm, and this is general information, not legal advice. Rent-increase rules and current-year guidelines depend on your province: for advice or the latest figure, contact your provincial residential-tenancy tribunal. Full disclaimer. Facts checked September 2026.