Rent Increase Notice and Tenant Response

Most rent increases that break the rules break them on process, not price: too little notice, twice in a year, or the wrong form. This page loads your province's rule, does the arithmetic on the increase you were given, and drafts a written response. Where a province requires an official notice form — Ontario's N1, BC's RTB notice — an increase delivered any other way is generally not valid, and this page tells you so rather than helping you argue about the percentage.

What this template is for

A draft built around the details you need

Use this to check a rent increase against provincial notice rules and to put your acceptance, question, or refusal in writing.

Rent rules, guideline percentages, and exemptions change and vary by province and by building. Always confirm the current guideline with the official provincial source linked on this page before relying on a number.

How to use it

  1. Select your province to load the notice period, frequency limit, and guideline source.
  2. Enter your current rent, the proposed rent, and the dates on the notice you received.
  3. Read the arithmetic and the provincial rule before deciding how to respond.
  4. Choose your response and download it. Keep a copy and proof of delivery.

A completed example

Example shown for Ontario

An Ontario tenant checking a 3.8% increase against the published guideline and asking for written justification.

2026-08-06

Kestrel Residential Ltd.

Subject: Response to rent increase notice for 2130 Danforth Avenue, Unit 6 Toronto, ON M4C 1K1

Dear Kestrel Residential Ltd.,

I received a notice on 2026-07-15 proposing to increase the rent at 2130 Danforth Avenue, Unit 6 Toronto, ON M4C 1K1 from $1850 to $1920, effective 2026-11-01.

That is an increase of $70.00 per month, or 3.78%, and $840.00 over a year. The 2026 guideline is 2.1%, which would allow a rent of $1,888.85. The proposed amount is above the guideline. Unless this unit is exempt or the increase has been approved, please explain the basis for it. I received 109 days of notice before the proposed effective date. My last increase took effect about 12 months before this one.

Ontario sets an annual rent increase guideline, allows one increase per 12 months, and requires 90 days of written notice on Form N1. Units first occupied after November 15, 2018 are generally exempt from the guideline but still need proper notice.

Before I respond, please provide written confirmation of the guideline or allowable increase you are applying, whether this unit is exempt, and the date of my last rent increase as you have it recorded.

Please reply in writing so we both have a record. Sincerely, Aisha Mohamed [email protected] 416-555-0126

Make your own

Fill in your details, then download a PDF or an editable Word file.

Use the official form

Ontario Landlord and Tenant Board requires Form N1: Notice of Rent Increase.

An Ontario rent increase is only valid on Form N1 with 90 days of notice.

Open the official form
  • Tenant name is required.
  • Landlord/property manager is required.
  • Rental address is required.
  • Current monthly rent is required.
  • Proposed new monthly rent is required.
  • Date you received the notice is required.
  • Date the increase would start is required.

Official forms for this task

Common questions

How do I know if a rent increase is legal?

Check three things in order: was it delivered on the province's official form, was there enough notice, and has it been at least 12 months since the last increase. Only then does the percentage matter. A notice that fails any of the first three is usually invalid regardless of the amount.

What is the rent increase guideline?

Several provinces publish an annual percentage a landlord can apply without approval. Ontario's 2026 guideline is 2.1%. Guidelines change every year and many units are exempt, so this page links the official provincial source rather than asking you to trust a number on a template site.

Which units are exempt from the guideline?

In Ontario, units first occupied for residential purposes after November 15, 2018 are generally exempt from the guideline, though the landlord still needs to give proper notice on Form N1. Other provinces have their own exemptions for new construction and certain unit types.

What happens if I refuse in Quebec?

Quebec is the outlier. You have one month from the landlord's notice to refuse in writing. If you refuse, the landlord must apply to the Tribunal administratif du logement to have the rent fixed. If you say nothing, you are treated as having accepted.

Can my landlord raise the rent because a roommate moved in?

Generally not as a separate increase outside the normal rules, though some leases set an additional-occupant charge. Rent increase rules apply to the rent, and adding an occupant does not restart the 12-month clock.

How this template is maintained

Last reviewed
Reviewed by
Thomas TremblayFounder and editor, Canooq

Sources

See also

Practical pathways

Continue with related Canadian tasks