Ontario Capping Rent Increases at 1.8 Per Cent

Ontario Capping Rent Increases at 1.8 Per Cent for Tenants in 2018

Expanded Rent Control Keeping Rentals Fair and Affordable for 250,000 More People

June 23, 2017 10:00 A.M.

Ministry of Housing

Ontario's expansion of rent control to all private market rental housing units across the province means that 250,000 more tenants will receive protection from unfair rent increases, and will have their rent capped at the annual rent increase guideline of 1.8 per cent in 2018.

The rent increase guideline is the maximum landlords can raise a tenant's rent without the approval of the Landlord and Tenant Board. It is applicable to rent increases between January 1 and December 31, 2018. The guideline is based on the Ontario Consumer Price Index, a measure of inflation calculated by Statistics Canada that reflects economic conditions over the past year.

The recently-passed Rental Fairness Act, 2017 expanded rent control to all private rental units, including those occupied on or after November 1, 1991. For rent increase notices given on or after April 20, 2017, landlords cannot raise rents more than the rent increase guideline.

Expanding rent control and strengthening protections for tenants are key components of Ontario's Fair Housing Plan, to help more people find an affordable place to call home.

Keeping rental housing affordable and predictable while making the rental housing system fairer is part of our plan to create jobs, grow our economy and help people in their everyday lives.