Ontario Rent Increase Guideline History
Every Ontario rent increase guideline from 2020 to 2026 in one place — including the 2021 rent freeze and the years the guideline was held at its 2.5% legal cap. Free to reference and cite.
| Year | Guideline | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2.1% | Set from CPI; below the 2.5% cap. |
| 2025 | 2.5% | Held at the legal maximum. |
| 2024 | 2.5% | Held at the legal maximum. |
| 2023 | 2.5% | Capped at 2.5% despite higher inflation. |
| 2022 | 1.2% | Reflected lower pandemic-era CPI. |
| 2021 | 0% | Legislated rent freeze (COVID-19 relief). |
| 2020 | 2.2% | Set from CPI before the freeze. |
How the guideline is set
Each year the Ontario government sets the rent increase guideline based on the Ontario Consumer Price Index (CPI). It represents the maximum most landlords can raise rent without seeking an above-guideline increase from the Landlord and Tenant Board. Two structural features stand out in the data: the 2021 rent freeze, a COVID-19 relief measure, and the 2.5% legal cap that held the guideline down in 2023–2025 even as inflation ran higher.
Using this data
You're welcome to cite this page. For the current-year details — who's exempt, how notice works, and what to do if your landlord exceeds the guideline — see our 2026 rent increase guide, and check any specific increase with the Rent Increase Calculator.
Last reviewed: August 2026.