Ontario Caps Rent Increases for 2014 at 0.8 Per Cent for Some Canadian Tenant Households

This video presents “MPP Schein calls on Liberal government to protect tenants”:

  • MPP Schein in the legislature called on the Liberal provincial government to close the loophole that excludes thousands of Ontarians from rent control protections:
    • Tenants living in rental units built after 1991 are not covered by the rent increase guidelines in the Residential Tenancies Act

    • As a result, these tenants face large and often arbitrary rent increases that are simply not affordable

  • The Minister claimed that these tenants have enough protection under the existing Residential Tenancies Act
  • MPP Schein urged the Minister to close the loophole so that all tenants in Ontario can have the same protection

Ontario is capping rent increases for 2014 at 0.8 per cent for the province’s one million tenant households:

The Rent Increase Guideline is calculated under the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006 as follows:

  • However, the guideline does not apply to:
    • Residential units first occupied on or after Nov. 1, 1991
    • Vacant residential units
    • Social housing units
    • Nursing homes
    • Commercial property

The 2014 guideline applies to rent increases that occur between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2014.

Province of Ontario's image: Housing and the Residential Tenancies Act
Province of Ontario’s image: Housing and the Residential Tenancies Act

NEWS RELEASE

2014 Rent Increase Cap Second Lowest Since 1975

Ontario Government Committed to Affordable Housing

Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing

Ontario is capping rent increases for 2014 at 0.8 per cent for the province’s one million tenant households — the second lowest cap since the introduction of rent regulation 38 years ago.

The cap, also known as the Rent Increase Guideline, is the maximum amount a landlord can increase a tenants’ rent without seeking the approval of the Landlord and Tenant Board.

Providing Ontarians with affordable housing is part of the government’s plan to create a fair and prosperous society and help people in their everyday lives.

QUICK FACTS

  • The average rent increase guideline from 2004 to 2013 was 2.1 per cent. The average rent increase guideline from 1993 to 2003 was 3.1 per cent.
  • The Ontario government passed legislation in 2012 to amend the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006 to ensure that the guideline is capped at no higher than 2.5 per cent.
  • The 2014 guideline applies to rent increases that occur between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2014.
  • A tenant must be given proper written notice of a rent increase at least 90 days before the rent increase takes effect.
  • The guideline is calculated under the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006, which came into force on Jan. 31, 2007. The calculation is based on the Ontario Consumer Price Index, a measure of inflation that is calculated by Statistics Canada.

LEARN MORE

QUOTES

“The Rent Increase Guideline is based on the Ontario Consumer Price Index. This year’s rate will be the second lowest in history. It will help to ensure Ontario families have more money in their pockets while keeping housing affordable.”
— Linda Jeffrey, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing

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