How much can my landlord raise my rent in Ontario in 2026?

The rent increase guideline for 2026 is 2.1%. Your landlord can only raise your rent once every 12 months and must give you at least 90 days written notice using the proper form. Units first occupied after November 15, 2018 are exempt from rent control, meaning the landlord can raise the rent by any amount.

Can my landlord evict me in Ontario?

A landlord can only evict you for specific reasons listed in the Residential Tenancies Act, such as non-payment of rent, causing damage, illegal activity, or the landlord needing the unit for personal use. The landlord must serve you a proper notice form from the Landlord and Tenant Board and then apply to the LTB for an eviction order. A notice alone does not end your tenancy. You have the right to a hearing.

Can my landlord charge a damage deposit in Ontario?

No. Damage deposits, security deposits, pet deposits, and cleaning deposits are all illegal in Ontario. The only deposit a landlord can legally collect is a last month's rent deposit (equal to one month's rent) and a refundable key deposit (limited to the actual cost of replacing keys). If your landlord collected an illegal deposit, you can file a T1 application with the Landlord and Tenant Board to recover the money.

Can my landlord enter my apartment without permission?

A landlord must give you at least 24 hours written notice before entering your unit, and can only enter between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. The only exceptions are emergencies (fire, flood, gas leak), if you consent at the time of entry, or if the tenancy agreement allows the landlord to clean the unit at regular intervals. The landlord cannot enter just because they own the property.

Can my landlord say no pets in Ontario?

No-pet clauses in Ontario leases are not enforceable under the Residential Tenancies Act. Even if your lease says no pets, you cannot be evicted for having a pet. The only exception is if the pet causes allergies, damage, noise, or safety issues for other tenants. In that case, the landlord would need to go through the LTB, not simply evict you for having the pet.

Ontario Tenant Rights

Ontario has strong tenant protections under the Residential Tenancies Act. This page covers rent increase limits, what your landlord can and cannot do, eviction rules, deposits, the standard lease, and how to file a complaint with the Landlord and Tenant Board.

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2026 Rent Cap

2.1%

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Damage Deposits

Illegal

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Standard Lease

Required

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File at LTB

$53

📋 Read on Ontario.ca ⚖️ Landlord and Tenant Board

Rent Increases

The Ontario government sets a rent increase guideline each year. For 2026, the guideline is 2.1%. Your landlord can only raise your rent by this amount or less unless the Landlord and Tenant Board approves a higher increase.

The rules:

Rent can only increase once every 12 months

Your landlord must give you at least 90 days written notice using the N1 or N2 form from the LTB

The increase cannot exceed the guideline without LTB approval (via an Above Guideline Increase application)

You must have lived in the unit for at least 12 months before the first rent increase

Rent control exemption: Units first occupied for residential purposes after November 15, 2018 are exempt from the guideline. If you moved into a newly built or newly converted unit after that date, your landlord can raise the rent by any amount with 90 days notice. There is no cap. This applies to most newer condo and purpose-built apartment buildings.

Deposits: What Is Legal and What Is Not

Legal:

Last month's rent (LMR) deposit: Equal to one month's rent. Applied to your final month of tenancy. Your landlord must pay annual interest on this deposit at the provincial guideline rate (2.1% in 2026).

Key deposit: Limited to the actual replacement cost of the keys. Must be refunded when you return the keys at the end of the tenancy.

Illegal (even if your landlord asks for them):

Damage deposit

Security deposit

Pet deposit

Cleaning deposit

Post-dated cheques (a landlord can request them but cannot require them)

If your landlord collected an illegal deposit, file a T1 application with the Landlord and Tenant Board. The LTB can order the landlord to return the illegal deposit to you.

Eviction Rules

A landlord cannot just tell you to leave or change the locks. There is a legal process, and you have the right to a hearing at every step.

1The landlord serves you a formal notice using the correct LTB form (N4 for non-payment, N12 for personal use, N13 for renovations, etc.). A text message, email, or verbal warning is not a legal notice.

2You have a response period to fix the issue (for example, pay overdue rent) or dispute the notice. Under Bill 60 (effective 2026), the response period for non-payment of rent is 7 days (previously 14).

3If the issue is not resolved, the landlord files an application with the Landlord and Tenant Board.

4The LTB schedules a hearing. You receive notice of the hearing date. You have the right to attend, present evidence, and defend yourself.

5The LTB makes a decision. If the LTB sides with the landlord, they issue an eviction order. If the LTB sides with you, the eviction is denied.

6Only the sheriff can enforce the eviction. The landlord cannot lock you out, remove your belongings, or shut off utilities. If they do, call the police.

Valid reasons for eviction:

• Non-payment of rent (N4 notice, 7-day response period as of 2026)

• Landlord's own use or immediate family member's use (N12 notice, 60 days)

• Major renovations requiring the unit to be vacant (N13 notice, 120 days)

• Demolition or conversion (N13 notice, 120 days)

• Persistent late payment of rent (N8 notice)

• Illegal activity in the unit (N6 notice)

• Causing serious damage or safety hazards (N5 or N7 notice)

Bad faith evictions: If a landlord evicts you for personal use (N12) but does not actually move in, you can file a complaint with the LTB. Landlords face penalties including compensation of up to 12 months rent to the former tenant.

Bill 60 Changes (2026)

Bill 60 (the Fighting Delays, Building Faster Act, 2025) was passed by the Ontario Legislature on November 24, 2025. Schedule 12 of the bill amends the Residential Tenancies Act. Three key changes affect tenants:

• Shorter notice period for non-payment: Landlords can now serve an N4 (non-payment of rent) notice after 7 days of unpaid rent, reduced from 14 days previously. You have less time to pay before the formal process starts.

• Shorter appeal window: The window to appeal an eviction order has been shortened from 30 days to 15 days.

• Fixed-term lease changes: Fixed-term leases no longer automatically convert to month-to-month agreements at the end of the term. Landlords have more flexibility to renegotiate terms or choose not to renew.

Your core protections (rent control for eligible units, right to a hearing, no illegal deposits, maintenance obligations) remain unchanged.

Your Rights as a Tenant

Enter your unit without 24 hours written notice (except in emergencies)

Enter your unit outside 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Shut off heat, electricity, or water. These are essential services and cutting them off is illegal, even during a rent dispute.

Change the locks without giving you a key.

Evict you for having a pet. No-pet clauses are not enforceable under the RTA.

Collect a damage deposit, security deposit, or pet deposit.

Require post-dated cheques. They can ask, but you can say no.

Limit your guests. Clauses restricting overnight guests or requiring guest registration are not enforceable.

Raise your rent more than once in 12 months or by more than the guideline without LTB approval.

Refuse to maintain the unit. The landlord must keep the unit and common areas in good repair, working condition, and compliant with health and safety standards regardless of what your lease says.

The Standard Ontario Lease

Since April 30, 2018, most residential landlords must use the Ontario Standard Lease (Form 2229E). This is a government-issued template with 15 mandatory sections that cannot be altered or removed. It covers the parties, rent, deposits, utilities, maintenance, and more.

If your landlord does not provide a standard lease within 21 days of you asking for one in writing, you can withhold one month's rent as compensation. If they still do not provide it within 30 days after that, you can withhold another month's rent.

Illegal clauses: Any clause in a lease that contradicts the Residential Tenancies Act is void and unenforceable, even if you signed it. This includes no-pet clauses, guest restrictions, mandatory cleaning fees, and damage deposits. The Act overrides the lease.

Read the standard lease guide on Ontario.ca →

Filing a Complaint With the LTB

The Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) is the tribunal that settles disputes between landlords and tenants. Both sides can file applications. Decisions are legally binding and can be enforced by the sheriff.

Common tenant applications:

• T1: Recover illegal charges or deposits

• T2: Landlord interfered with your rights, harassed you, or entered illegally

• T6: Maintenance issues the landlord refuses to fix

The filing fee for most tenant applications is $53. You can file online at the Tribunals Ontario portal. After filing, you receive a hearing date. Bring all evidence (photos, written communications, receipts, your lease) to the hearing.

Document everything in writing. If your landlord contacts you verbally, follow up with an email summarizing what was said. Keep copies of every text, email, and letter. Take dated photos of any maintenance issues. Written evidence is far more persuasive than verbal testimony at an LTB hearing.

Visit the LTB website →

Ending Your Tenancy

To end a month-to-month tenancy, give your landlord at least 60 days written notice using the N9 form. The termination date must be the last day of a rental period (usually the last day of a month).

If you are on a fixed-term lease, you generally cannot leave early without the landlord's agreement. Options include assigning the lease to a new tenant (your landlord cannot unreasonably refuse an assignment request) or negotiating a mutual termination.

Your last month's rent deposit is applied to your final month. Make sure your landlord confirms this in writing. Return all keys and leave the unit in the same condition you received it, minus normal wear and tear.

Frequently Asked Questions

My landlord sent me a text saying I have to leave. Do I have to move? +

No. A text message is not a legal eviction notice. Your landlord must serve you a proper LTB notice form in writing, then apply to the LTB and receive a formal eviction order. You have the right to a hearing at the LTB. Do not move out based on informal pressure. If your landlord harasses you to leave, file a T2 application with the LTB.

My landlord is not making repairs. What can I do? +

First, put the repair request in writing (email or letter) and keep a copy. Give the landlord a reasonable time to respond (1 to 2 weeks for non-urgent repairs). If they do not respond, file a T6 application with the LTB ($53 filing fee). The LTB can order the landlord to complete the repairs and may award you a rent abatement for the time you lived with the issue.

Can my landlord raise the rent when I renew my lease? +

Rent can only increase once every 12 months by the provincial guideline (2.1% for 2026). The fact that a lease is renewing does not give the landlord the right to raise rent above the guideline. Any increase above the guideline requires LTB approval. Remember that units first occupied after November 15, 2018 are exempt from rent control.

My landlord says I cannot have guests stay overnight. Is that legal? +

No. Clauses restricting guests are not enforceable under the RTA. You have the right to have guests, including overnight guests, without restriction. The only exception is if a guest's behaviour causes problems for other tenants (noise, damage, etc.), which would be handled as a separate issue.

Does the RTA apply to me if I live with my landlord? +

If you share a kitchen or bathroom with the landlord or a member of the landlord's family, the RTA does not apply to you. This means the protections described on this page (rent control, eviction process, deposit rules) do not cover your situation. If you rent a self-contained unit (your own kitchen and bathroom) within the landlord's house, the RTA does apply.

Where can I get free legal help with a tenant issue? +

Legal Aid Ontario operates tenant duty counsel at LTB locations, providing free same-day legal help at hearings. Community legal clinics across Ontario offer free legal advice to low-income tenants. The Federation of Metro Tenants' Associations runs a free hotline at 416-921-9494. Many university law schools also have free tenant rights clinics.

Need Help?

Contact the Landlord and Tenant Board.

1-888-332-1975