Check a rent increase against the Ontario guideline

Each year, Ontario sets a maximum percentage — the guideline — by which most rents can be raised without approval from the Landlord and Tenant Board. In general, a landlord must give at least 90 days written notice in the proper form, and at least 12 months must usually pass between increases (or after a tenancy starts). Some exceptions apply, such as increases a tenant agrees to in exchange for extra services.

A landlord can apply to the Landlord and Tenant Board for permission to raise rent above the guideline — usually for major capital work, certain security services, or unusual cost increases. An AGI is not automatic: the Board decides whether to approve it, and tenants can take part in that process. If your notice mentions an AGI, the application details matter as much as the percentage.

Some units are exempt from the annual guideline — for example, certain newer units and a few other categories. For exempt units the guideline cap generally does not apply, though notice rules generally still do. Rather than relying on a summary, check the current exemptions on the official Ontario page.

The checker compares your numbers against the published guideline and flags dates that may be worth a closer look. It cannot decide whether a notice is valid, whether your unit is exempt, or how the Board would rule. Those questions belong with a legal clinic, lawyer, or licensed paralegal — the legal help finder can point you to one.