Rent Increases in Quebec
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 Quebec differs from federal law
Quebec has a unique system for rent increases that provides significant tenant protection. While there is no formal rent control ceiling, the Tribunal administratif du logement sets annual guidelines, and tenants have the right to refuse any increase they consider excessive.
- A landlord must give written notice of a rent increase at least 3 months before the lease renewal date for a lease of 12 months or more (1 month for leases under 12 months). The notice must state the new rent and any changes to lease conditions (article 1942 CCQ).
- The tenant has one month after receiving the notice to either accept, refuse the increase while remaining in the dwelling, or refuse and leave at the end of the lease. If the tenant does nothing, the increase is deemed accepted.
- If the tenant refuses the increase but stays, the landlord must apply to the TAL within one month to have the rent fixed. The TAL will determine a reasonable rent increase based on its annual calculation criteria (which consider municipal taxes, insurance, energy costs, maintenance, and capital expenditures).
- The TAL publishes annual estimates of reasonable rent increases based on landlord expense categories. These are guidelines, not binding ceilings, but they are used by the TAL in adjudication.
- For dwellings built or converted within the last 5 years, the rent-fixing process does not apply — landlords can set the initial rent freely. After 5 years, the normal rules apply.
- A new tenant can ask the TAL to fix the rent within 2 months of the start of the lease if they believe the landlord has set an excessive rent compared to what the previous tenant paid. The landlord must disclose the previous tenant's rent in a mandatory lease annex (Section G of the standard lease).
Additional Steps in Quebec
If you receive a rent increase notice, you have one month to respond. If you consider the increase unreasonable, send written notice to your landlord refusing the increase but confirming you will stay. The landlord must then apply to the TAL to justify the increase. Use the TAL's online rent calculation tool at tal.gouv.qc.ca to estimate what a reasonable increase should be.
Relevant Law: Civil Code of Quebec, arts. 1942-1955; Regulation respecting the criteria for the fixing of rent (CQLR c T-15.01, r. 2)
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.
Legal Resources
We may earn a commission if you use these services — at no extra cost to you. This supports our mission to make legal information free for everyone.