The Ontario government has set the 2016 Annual Rent Increase Guideline at 2.0%. The increase of 2.0% for 2016 is the maximum a landlord can raise a tenant’s rent without the approval of the Landlord and Tenant Board.
If the landlord intends to implement an Above Guideline Increase the landlord is required to abide by the regulations of the Landlord and Tenant Board and file an application with Landlord and Tenant Board for an Above Guideline Increase. Refer to this link: http://www.sjto.gov.on.ca/documents/ltb/Brochures/Information%20about%20AGI%20Applications%20(EN)%20Revised_Bill140_June15_2015.pdf?b58864
This increase for 2016 applies to most sitting residential tenants. However, the guideline increase does not apply to new tenants. Rents charged to new tenants are at the discretion of the landlord.
The 2016 guideline increase takes effect from January 1, 2016 through December 31, 2016. Approximately 85% of private market tenants are will be covered by this recent guidelines increase. As noted above, landlords cannot increase rent for sitting tenants above the 2.0% guideline without seeking approval from the Landlord and Tenant Board. Refer to:2016_Rent_Increase
This 2016 guideline increase of 2.0% is higher than the 1.6% rent increase for 2015. It is based on the Ontario Consumer Price Index (CPI), a measure of inflation calculated monthly by Statistics Canada.
More detailed information on the 2016 Annual Rent Increased Guideline is available at the Municipal Affairs and Housing website: http://news.ontario.ca/mah/en/2015/06/2016-ontario-rent-increase-guideline.html
East York Tenants Group 