AT A GLANCE
- The N1 is the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) form a landlord uses to raise the rent on a unit covered by Ontario's rent increase guideline [1].
- It must be given at least 90 days before the increase takes effect, and at least 12 months must have passed since the last increase or the start of the tenancy [2].
- The guideline is 2.1% for 2026 and 1.9% for 2027. It is capped at 2.5% in any year [2].
- Nothing is filed with the LTB and there is no fee. The landlord gives the notice to the tenant and keeps a copy.
Note: Sources are cited with [x] and listed with hyperlinks at the bottom of this post. Many of the charts are interactive, so you can use them to answer questions about your own building.
WHAT IT IS
The N1, Notice of Rent Increase, is the standard rent increase notice for most private rental units in Ontario. It tells the tenant the new rent and the date it starts. The guideline behind it applies to rented houses, apartments, basement apartments and condos, other than units first occupied for residential purposes after November 15, 2018 [2].
WHEN IT IS USED
Use the N1 once every 12 months to take the guideline increase. Ontario's own example: rent of $1,000 on a lease signed June 1, 2026 can rise to $1,019 on June 1, 2027, with written notice at least 90 days ahead [2]. The same form is used when the increase includes an above guideline amount tied to an L5 application.
DO NOT CONFUSE IT WITH
The N2 is for units exempt from the guideline. The N3 is for care homes. The N10 is a signed agreement to go above the guideline. Using the wrong one can leave you with no valid increase.
Investor takeaway: a missed N1 cannot be made up later. The five guidelines from 2023 to 2027 compound to about 12.0% [2]. On a $1,500 unit that is roughly $180 a month, or about $2,170 a year. At a 5% capitalization rate, used here only for illustration, that is about $43,000 of building value per unit. Buyers will also ask for copies of the N1s, because a tenant can dispute an improper increase within 12 months after it was first charged [2].
QUICK ANSWERS
How much notice does a landlord need to give for a rent increase in Ontario?
At least 90 days' written notice on the proper LTB form, and only once every 12 months [2].
What is the Ontario rent increase guideline for 2027?
1.9% [2].
Is the N1 filed with the Landlord and Tenant Board?
No. It is given to the tenant. Keep a copy and a record of how and when it was delivered.
Disclaimer: This post is for information only and is not legal advice. Confirm current forms and rules with the Landlord and Tenant Board or a licensed paralegal or lawyer before you serve or file.
This post is part of a series on Ontario Landlord and Tenant Board forms. See the full guide to the N series and L series.
About the Author: Terry Riddoch, Ontario Multi-Family and Commercial Real Estate Broker
Terry Riddoch is a licensed Ontario real estate broker with Re/Max Real Estate Centre, based in Waterloo Region and specializing in multi-family and apartment building sales across Ontario. With 19 years of experience and over $90 million in closed transactions, he advises independent landlords, private investors, and national investment groups on buying, selling, and valuing apartment buildings, investments and development land across the Province of Ontario including Waterloo Region (Kitchener, Waterloo and Cambridge), Guelph, Brantford, Hamilton, London, Milton, Windsor, Kingston, Belleville, Brockville and Sudbury.
Clients know Terry for candid advice, data-driven analysis, and doing the work well ahead of the deal. He writes regularly on Ontario landlord rules, rent control, the Landlord and Tenant Board, and housing policy to help property owners make informed decisions.
Thinking about selling an apartment building, or looking for your next investment property? Call Terry at (519) 591-1725, email [email protected], or visit terryriddoch.ca for a confidential, no-obligation conversation about your property.
SOURCES
- Tribunals Ontario. Landlord and Tenant Board: Forms, filing and fees. https://tribunalsontario.ca/ltb/forms-filing-and-fees/
- Government of Ontario. Residential rent increases (updated June 23, 2026). https://www.ontario.ca/page/residential-rent-increases
- Tribunals Ontario. N1 form. https://tribunalsontario.ca/documents/ltb/Notices%20of%20Rent%20Increase%20&%20Instructions/N1.pdf
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