Rent Increases in Alberta
Reviewed by the Commoner Law Editorial Team. Sourced from Canadian federal statutes and official sources. Provincial information reflects each province's own legislation and court rulings. Written in plain language for general understanding — this is educational content, not legal advice. Our editorial standards
What is this right?
Most provinces limit how much and how often your landlord can raise the rent. In general, rent can only go up once every 12 months, and your landlord must give you written notice — usually 90 days in advance.
Rent control varies across the country:
- Ontario: Annual guideline (published each August for the following year) — applies only to units first occupied before November 2018. Newer units have no cap.
- British Columbia: Annual maximum set by the province each year (tied to CPI).
- Manitoba: Annual guideline set by the Residential Tenancies Branch.
- Alberta and Saskatchewan: No rent increase cap at all.
- Quebec: Has advisory guidelines — tenants can challenge increases at the TAL.
Ontario allows vacancy decontrol, which means landlords can set any rent they want for a new tenant after the previous one moves out.
When does it apply?
- Applies to ongoing residential tenancies, not the initial rent when you first sign a lease.
- Your landlord can only raise rent once every 12 months.
- Rules apply differently depending on your province and when your building was constructed.
What to Do If Your Canadian Landlord Raised Your Rent Illegally
- Check if your unit is rent-controlled — in Ontario, units first occupied after November 2018 are exempt from the guideline.
- Verify the notice was proper — correct form, correct amount of advance notice, correct increase amount.
- If the increase is above the guideline, file a dispute with your provincial tribunal.
- Continue paying your current rent while the dispute is being resolved.
What should you NOT do?
- Don't ignore a rent increase notice — in Quebec, failure to respond within the deadline counts as acceptance.
- Don't assume your unit is rent-controlled — always check based on your province and the age of the building.
- Don't pay an illegal increase without filing a dispute first.
- Don't accept a verbal rent increase — your landlord must provide written notice on the proper form.
How Alberta differs from federal law
Alberta has no rent control. Unlike British Columbia and Ontario, there is no cap on how much a landlord can increase rent in Alberta. However, there are procedural rules under the Residential Tenancies Act.
- For periodic tenancies (month-to-month), the landlord must give at least 12 weeks' written notice (about 3 months) before a rent increase takes effect. For week-to-week tenancies, the notice period is 12 weeks as well.
- Rent can only be increased once every 365 days (1 year). Even if you move from a fixed-term lease to month-to-month, the landlord must wait a full year from the last increase.
- For fixed-term leases, rent cannot be increased during the term of the lease unless the lease specifically allows it.
- There is no limit on the amount of the increase. A landlord can raise rent by any amount, as long as proper notice is given and the 1-year minimum interval is respected.
- The rent increase notice must be in writing and must specify the new rent amount and the date it takes effect.
Additional Steps in Alberta
If your landlord raises rent without proper notice (12 weeks for periodic tenancies) or increases rent more than once in 365 days, you can dispute this with the RTDRS at rtdrs.alberta.ca. If the increase is unaffordable, you can give 1 month's notice to end a month-to-month tenancy. Keep copies of all rent increase notices and your lease agreement.
Relevant Law: Residential Tenancies Act, SA 2004, c. R-17.1, ss. 34–36 (Rent and Rent Increases)
Common Questions
When does rent increases apply?
Applies to ongoing residential tenancies, not the initial rent when you first sign a lease.Your landlord can only raise rent once every 12 months.Rules apply differently depending on your province and when your building was constructed.
What should I do if my landlord in Canada raised my rent by more than allowed?
Check if your unit is rent-controlled — in Ontario, units first occupied after November 2018 are exempt from the guideline.Verify the notice was proper — correct form, correct amount of advance notice, correct increase amount.If the increase is above the guideline, file a dispute with your provincial tribunal.Continue paying your current rent while the dispute is being resolved.
What mistakes should I avoid with rent increases?
Don't ignore a rent increase notice — in Quebec, failure to respond within the deadline counts as acceptance.Don't assume your unit is rent-controlled — always check based on your province and the age of the building.Don't pay an illegal increase without filing a dispute first.Don't accept a verbal rent increase — your landlord must provide written notice on the proper form.
Rent Increases in other states
Same topic, different jurisdiction. Pick the one that applies to you.