A Canadian Rent Increase Letter is a formal written notice from a landlord to a tenant informing them that the rent for their residential property will be increased. In Canada, rent increase rules are governed entirely at the provincial and territorial level, with significant variations in the required notice period, the maximum allowable increase, the frequency of increases, and the tenant's right to dispute.

In Ontario, the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006 (S.O. 2006, c. 17) requires landlords to provide 90 days written notice using the prescribed Form N1 (Notice of Rent Increase) before the effective date of the increase (s. 116). Rent increases are capped at the annual guideline percentage published each year by the Ministry of Housing — the guideline has typically ranged from 1.2% to 2.5% in recent years and is based on the Ontario Consumer Price Index. Units first occupied for residential purposes after November 15, 2018 are exempt from the rent increase guideline, meaning the landlord can increase rent by any amount with proper notice. Rent can only be increased once every 12 months (s. 119), and above-guideline increases require LTB approval.

British Columbia's Residential Tenancy Act (S.B.C. 2002, c. 78) requires 3 full months written notice before the effective date (s. 42). Increases are capped at the annual allowable percentage set by the Residential Tenancy Branch, and rent can only be increased once every 12 months. Alberta's Residential Tenancies Act (S.A. 2004, c. R-17.1) requires written notice equal to the rental period with a minimum of 12 weeks (s. 37). Alberta has no cap on rent increase amounts for periodic tenancies, but rent can only be increased once every 12 months. In Quebec, the Civil Code requires landlords to notify tenants of a rent increase 3-6 months before the lease renewal date, and the tenant has the right to refuse — if refused, the Tribunal administratif du logement (TAL) determines the allowable increase amount.

A Canadian Rent Increase Letter is needed when a landlord intends to raise the rent for a residential tenancy and must provide the required statutory notice to the tenant. This is a mandatory step — a landlord cannot simply inform a tenant verbally or increase the automatic payment amount without providing the prescribed written notice.

The letter is required when at least 12 months have passed since the last rent increase or the start of the tenancy (this is the rule in Ontario, BC, and Alberta — the 12-month rule prevents landlords from increasing rent more frequently). The landlord must calculate the effective date to ensure the required notice period is met: 90 days in Ontario, 3 full months in BC, 12 weeks in Alberta.

It is needed when the landlord wants to increase rent within the annual guideline percentage (in Ontario and BC) or by any amount (in Alberta). If the landlord wants to increase rent above the annual guideline in Ontario, they must separately apply to the LTB for an above-guideline increase under RTA s. 126 before serving the N1 notice.

The notice is also necessary when a fixed-term lease is converting to a month-to-month tenancy and the landlord wants to increase the rent for the new periodic tenancy. In Ontario, the landlord cannot increase rent during the first 12 months of the tenancy, so the earliest an increase can take effect is 12 months after the tenant moved in.

In Quebec, the rent increase notice is part of the annual lease renewal process. The landlord must send the notice within the prescribed timeframe before the lease renewal date, and if the tenant refuses the increase, the landlord must apply to the TAL. If neither party gives notice, the lease renews at the existing rent.

A valid Canadian Rent Increase Letter must comply with the specific notice requirements of the applicable provincial legislation. In Ontario, the landlord must use the prescribed Form N1 (Notice of Rent Increase) issued by the Landlord and Tenant Board — a generic letter or email is not sufficient. The form requires the landlord's name and address, the tenant's name, the rental unit address, the current rent amount, the new rent amount, and the effective date of the increase.

The notice period must be calculated correctly. In Ontario, 90 days notice means the effective date must be at least 90 days after the date the notice is served to the tenant. In BC, 3 full months means the effective date must be the first day of a month that is at least 3 full calendar months after the date of service. In Alberta, 12 weeks notice is measured from the date of service. If the notice period is calculated incorrectly, the increase is invalid and the tenant can continue paying the current rent.

The increase must comply with provincial caps where applicable. In Ontario, the landlord should verify the current annual guideline percentage and ensure the increase does not exceed it (unless the unit is exempt or an above-guideline increase has been approved). In BC, the annual allowable rate must be checked with the Residential Tenancy Branch. In Alberta, there is no cap, but the increase must still be reasonable or the tenant may terminate the tenancy.

The letter should clearly state the current rent, the new rent, the effective date, and the due date for the first payment at the new rate. It should reference the tenancy agreement and the governing provincial legislation. Information about the tenant's rights to dispute the increase should be included — in Ontario, the tenant can apply to the LTB; in BC, to the RTB; in Quebec, the tenant can refuse within one month. The notice must be signed by the landlord and dated.