Ontario rent-increase deadline calculator
The two dates every Ontario landlord needs: the earliest legal increase date, and the day the N1 notice must be served — plus the maximum rent the guideline allows.
Updated for 2026 · 2027 guideline confirmed
Your tenancy
Your deadlines
Enter your tenancy start date above to see your deadlines.
How this is calculated
Three Ontario rules, in order:
- The 12-month rule. Rent can't be increased more than once every 12 months. Your next increase can't take effect until 12 months after the last one — or 12 months after the tenancy started, if there's never been an increase.
- The 90-day N1 notice. You must give the tenant written notice (LTB Form N1) at least 90 days before the increase takes effect. Count back 90 days from your increase date — that's your serve-by date. Serve it even a day late and the increase is void for that date.
- The guideline cap (rent-controlled units only). The maximum increase is the guideline for the calendar year the increase takes effect: 2.1% for 2026 and 1.9% for 2027. Units first occupied on or after November 15, 2018 are exempt — no cap, but rules 1 and 2 still apply.
Worked example
A tenant pays $2,000/month. Last increase took effect June 1, 2025. Unit first occupied in 2015 (rent-controlled).
- Earliest next increase: June 1, 2025 + 12 months = June 1, 2026
- N1 serve-by: June 1, 2026 − 90 days = March 3, 2026
- Maximum new rent: $2,000 × 1.021 (2026 guideline) = $2,042.00/month
What changed
The 2027 rent-increase guideline (1.9%) is now confirmed, so increases taking effect in 2027 use 1.9%. The 2028 guideline hasn't been announced — this page will update when it is, and never guesses.
Sources
- Ontario.ca — Residential rent increases (guideline figures; 2026 = 2.1%, 2027 = 1.9%)
- Residential Tenancies Act, 2006 (Ontario) — 12-month rule and 90-day notice requirement; rent-control exemption for units first occupied on or after November 15, 2018
- Landlord and Tenant Board — Form N1, Notice of Rent Increase
Common questions
My unit is exempt from rent control. Do I still need 90 days' notice?
Yes. The exemption only removes the guideline cap — the 12-month rule and the 90-day written notice still apply to every rent increase in Ontario.
What if I serve the N1 late?
The increase can't take effect on your planned date. Pick a new effective date at least 90 days after you serve the notice (and still 12+ months after the last increase), and serve a fresh N1. The calculator above recomputes this for you automatically.
Which year's guideline applies — the year I serve notice or the year the increase takes effect?
The year the increase takes effect. An increase effective January 1, 2027 uses the 2027 guideline (1.9%), even if you served the N1 in October 2026.
How do I know when my unit was first occupied?
It's the date the unit was first lived in as a residence — not when you bought it or when the current tenant moved in. If you're unsure, your property tax assessment, building permits, or the previous owner's records usually settle it. When in doubt, assume rent control applies.
Can I raise the rent by more than the guideline if my costs went up?
Only with Landlord and Tenant Board approval through an above-guideline increase application (Form L5) — you can't do it with an N1 alone.
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