Ontario Rent Increase Calculator
Check if your landlord's rent increase is within Ontario's LTB rent increase guidelines. Free, instant, no signup.
📋 Ontario Rent Increase Guidelines
| Year | Guideline % | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 2.5% | Estimated — official rate not yet published |
| 2026 | 2.5% | Estimated — official rate not yet published |
| 2025 | 2.5% | Set by Ontario government |
| 2024 | 2.5% | Set by Ontario government |
| 2023 | 2.5% | Set by Ontario government |
| 2022 | 1.2% | Set by Ontario government |
| 2021 | 0% | Rent freeze (COVID-19 response) |
| 2020 | 2.2% | Set by Ontario government |
Understanding Ontario Rent Increase Rules
Every year, the Ontario government publishes an annual rent increase guideline under the Residential Tenancies Act. This percentage represents the maximum amount a landlord can raise rent in a 12-month period without applying to the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) for special permission. For 2026 and 2027, that guideline is 2.5% (the 2027 rate is estimated — the official figure is typically announced in fall 2026). If your landlord is charging more than that on a standard rental unit, the increase may be illegal.
The guideline applies to most private residential rental units in Ontario — apartments, houses, basement units — as long as the unit was first occupied for residential purposes before November 15, 2018. Newer units built after that date are generally exempt, meaning landlords can charge any amount of rent increase. However, even for exempt units, landlords must still give 90 days written notice using Form N1 before any increase takes effect.
This tool calculates whether your specific rent increase falls within the guideline. It compares your current rent and new rent to the official LTB percentage for the year your increase takes effect, and gives you an instant verdict. It does not replace legal advice — if you believe your landlord has violated the rules, contact the LTB directly.
How to Use This Calculator
- Enter your current monthly rent — the amount you pay right now.
- Enter the new rent amount your landlord is proposing, either as a dollar amount or percentage increase.
- Select the year the increase takes effect.
- Select your unit type — standard (pre-Nov 2018) or newer (potentially exempt).
- Click Check My Rent Increase to get your instant verdict.
Frequently Asked Questions
The 2026 guideline is 2.5%, the same as 2023–2025. The 2027 guideline is estimated at 2.5% — the official figure is announced by the Ontario government each fall. A tenant paying $1,800/month can have rent raised to a maximum of $1,845/month under a standard guideline increase.
At least 90 days written notice using LTB Form N1. An email or text message does not satisfy this requirement — it must be a formal written notice.
Your landlord needs LTB approval through an Above Guideline Increase (AGI) application. Without that approval, you can file a T1 application at tribunalsontario.ca/ltb to dispute it.
No. Ontario law limits rent increases to once every 12 months, regardless of the amount. A landlord cannot stack two increases in a single year.
Yes — in 2021, the Ontario government froze rent at 0% as part of COVID-19 relief measures. Most tenants in standard units saw no legal rent increase that year.