Illegal Rent Increase in Ontario?
You may not have to pay it.
Ontario rent increases are strictly regulated under the Residential Tenancies Act (RTA). If your landlord didn’t follow the legal process or serve a valid Form N1, the increase may be illegal and unenforceable — even if you’ve already paid it.
We review your lease, rent history, and notices to explain your rights clearly and take fast action to stop or reverse unlawful rent increases.
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Why Illegal Rent Increases Matter Under Ontario’s RTA
The RTA
sets strict rules for rent increases in Ontario. Landlords must give 90 days’ written notice (Form N1) and may only raise rent once every 12 months, within the annual rent increase guideline.
If they don’t follow these rules, the increase may be illegal, and you have the right to challenge it at the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB).
Common Illegal Rent Increase Examples
- Rent raised without 90 days’ written notice (Form N1 required)
- Rent increased less than 12 months after previous increase or start of tenancy
- Increase above the provincial rent guideline without LTB approval
- Back-dated or undocumented increases or pressure to pay extra cash
- Landlord using text or email instead of the legal N1/N2 notice
Not Sure If Your Increase is Legal?
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Quick Legal Facts Tenants Must Know
- Landlords may only raise rent once every 12 months
- They must give at least 90 days’ written notice using the official LTB Form N1
- To go above the guideline, they must file an AGI (Above Guideline Increase) Application with the LTB — not just send you a notice
- Tenants have the right to dispute illegal or improper increases
- You may be entitled to a refund or rent reduction if you’ve already overpaid
Start with a Free, Confidential Consultation
What to Do Right Now
Step 1: Contact Us for Your Free Consultation
If you’re facing an illegal rent increase, or concerns about your rights — you don’t have to handle it alone. Our mission is to support tenants and make sure you understand your protections under the law.
Your first step is simple: Reach out for a free consultation so we can review your situation and begin protecting your rights immediately. From there, we’ll guide you through our structured Tenant Support Process, designed to bring clarity and confidence every step of the way.
Below, you’ll find what to do in the meantime before we walk through everything together.
Delays Can Shrink Or Erase Your Recovery.
Secure your eviction-defence and rent-increase challenge strategy today with Ontario licensed paralegals who know the LTB process.
Save All Your Evidence and Make Notes
Be sure to save all N1 notices (and any other notices), texts, emails, bank e-transfers, etc.
Respond Back to Your Landlord
Tell your landlord that you dispute the increase and request the legal grounds they are relying on.
How We Help
How Our Ontario Paralegals Help Tenants Challenge Illegal Rent Increases
- Rapid review of your lease, N1 notice, and payment records
- Check whether your landlord followed LTB procedures
- File the correct LTB applications to dispute unlawful rent
- Represent you at mediation and hearings — you won’t go alone
- Transparent fixed-fee options and payment plans
“Provided very clear and straight forward advice. Would recommend you reach out.”
Dharma D., Former Client
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Why Choose Cordaie Paralegal Services?
- Licensed by the Law Society of Ontario
- Paralegals authorized to represent tenants at the LTB
- Hundreds of LTB matters handled
- Flat-fee pricing — no billing surprises
- Professional, efficient, and trusted across Ontario
FAQs: Illegal Rent Increases for Ontario Tenants
Understanding your rights can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re faced with a rent increase that doesn’t seem fair or legal. In Ontario, landlords must follow specific rules under the RTA when increasing rent — including proper notice, timing, and staying within the annual guideline.
If a landlord does not follow these rules, the increase may be invalid, and you have the right to challenge it through the LTB.
Our goal is to give you clarity, confidence, and a path forward — without the confusion.
1. What counts as an illegal rent increase in Ontario?
A rent increase is illegal if your landlord breaks any of the key rules under the RTA.
An increase may be invalid or void if the landlord:
- Didn’t wait 12 months since your last rent increase or since you moved in.
- Didn’t give at least 90 days’ written notice using the official LTB Form N1.
- Raised rent above the provincial guideline (without LTB approval).
- Tried to back-date or demand extra “off-the-books” payments.
- Served the notice improperly or used the wrong form.
If any of these apply, the rent increase is not enforceable — you can keep paying the old legal rent and challenge the increase at the LTB.
2. Can my landlord increase rent mid-lease?
Usually no.
Your landlord cannot raise rent:
- More than once in any 12-month period, and
- Not before the end of your current lease term, unless your lease specifically allows it.
⚠️Important: Even if your building is exempt from the rent-increase guideline (for example, newer units first occupied after Nov 15, 2018), the landlord still must wait 12 months and give proper 90-day written notice.
If you’re only part-way through your lease and receive a rent-increase notice, it’s almost certainly premature and illegal.
3. What if I received notice by email instead of Form N1?
Rent-increase notices must be given in writing using the official Form N1 (or N2 where applicable).
Email notices are not valid unless you’ve given written consent to receive official documents that way and the landlord still uses the correct form.
⚠️Important: If your landlord sent an informal email or text saying “Your rent will go up next month,” that notice is invalid, and you don’t have to pay the increased amount.
Only a properly served Form N1 with at least 90 days’ notice makes a rent increase legal.
4. How long do I have to challenge an illegal rent increase?
You typically have up to one year from the date the increase was first charged to file an application with the LTB.
If you wait longer than that, the LTB may treat the rent as accepted.
However, if the notice was completely void (for example, wrong form or no proper notice at all), you can often dispute it later — but it’s always safest to act quickly.
5. What happens if I already paid the increased rent?
You may still be able to get a refund or credit for any overpayment.
If the increase was illegal or not properly served, you can file an application at the LTB asking for the money back and an order confirming the legal rent amount.
Keep your receipts, e-transfer records, or bank statements as proof.
⚠️Important: Paying the higher amount doesn’t make an illegal increase valid — but don’t delay; time limits apply.
6. How much can landlords raise rent in Ontario?
UPDATE: For 2026, the Ontario rent-increase guideline is 2.1%.
For 2025, the Ontario rent-increase guideline was 2.5%.
This means most landlords can only raise rent by up to 2.5% once every 12 months, with 90 days’ written notice on Form N1.
Example:
If your rent is $1,500/month, the legal 2025 increase would be $37.50, for a new rent of $1,537.50.
⚠️Important: Some units are exempt (newer buildings first occupied after Nov 15, 2018), meaning landlords can set the amount freely — but they still must follow the 12-month and 90-day rules.
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