Is my apartment rent-controlled in Ontario? The November 15, 2018 rule

Two identical-looking apartments across the hall can have completely different rent rules. The deciding factor in Ontario is usually a single date: November 15, 2018.

The rule in one line

Units first occupied for residential purposes on or after November 15, 2018 are generally exempt from the annual rent-increase guideline. Units occupied before that date are generally covered by it.

Covered → your landlord normally can't raise rent by more than the year's guideline (2.5% for 2026) without an approved exception.
Exempt → the guideline cap doesn't apply, so increases aren't limited to it (proper notice is still required).

It's about occupancy, not the building

This is the part people get wrong: it's about when the unit was first lived in, not when the building was constructed. An apartment in an older building can still be exempt if that specific unit was first occupied after November 15, 2018 (for example, a newly created basement suite or a converted space).

So "my building is from the 1970s, therefore I'm rent-controlled" isn't a safe assumption on its own.

How to figure out which one you are

Find out when your unit was first occupied for residential use. Your lease, the landlord, or the building's history can help.
If it was before Nov 15, 2018 → you're generally covered by the guideline.
If it was on/after that date → generally exempt.
Still unsure? The Landlord and Tenant Board can clarify your specific situation.

What about Above-Guideline Increases (AGIs)?

Even for covered units, a landlord can apply to the Board for an increase above the guideline — typically tied to major repairs or large tax increases. AGIs must be approved, and you have the right to respond to the application.

Check a specific increase

If you've received a rent-increase notice, you don't have to work out the rules by hand. The rent-increase checker accounts for the guideline, the exemption, and AGIs, and tells you whether a proposed increase is within the rules. For the year-by-year history, see the Ontario rent guidelines.

General information, not legal advice. Rent-control rules have exceptions; always confirm your situation with the Landlord and Tenant Board.

The rule in one line

Covered → your landlord normally can't raise rent by more than the year's guideline (2.5% for 2026) without an approved exception.

Exempt → the guideline cap doesn't apply, so increases aren't limited to it (proper notice is still required).

It's about occupancy, not the building

So "my building is from the 1970s, therefore I'm rent-controlled" isn't a safe assumption on its own.

How to figure out which one you are

Find out when your unit was first occupied for residential use. Your lease, the landlord, or the building's history can help.

If it was before Nov 15, 2018 → you're generally covered by the guideline.

If it was on/after that date → generally exempt.

Still unsure? The Landlord and Tenant Board can clarify your specific situation.

Check a specific increase

General information, not legal advice. Rent-control rules have exceptions; always confirm your situation with the Landlord and Tenant Board.