What is the Ontario rent guideline for 2026?

The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing publishes the annual rent guideline each summer for the following calendar year. Confirm the current rate before issuing a rent increase notice.

Can I evict a tenant to move in to my Ottawa rental?

Yes, Form N12 (personal use) is the right notice, and it comes with strict compliance requirements. Bad-faith N12s carry significant penalties under recent amendments.

What's the standard security deposit in Ontario?

Ontario law allows last month's rent as a deposit but doesn't allow a separate security or damage deposit. That deposit must accrue interest annually at the rent guideline rate.

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Ottawa Investor Resources

Ottawa Rental Property Guide

By Bo Yu, Broker, Right at Home Realty, Brokerage

Once you own a rental in Ottawa, how you run it matters more than how you bought it. Tenant screening, rent increases that comply with the RTA, proper notices, and steady maintenance are what separate a profitable rental from a problem file.

Prices, rates, and program rules change often. Treat the figures here as general guidance, not advice for your specific situation. Ask Bo for current OREB comparables, and confirm program eligibility with your lender or lawyer.

Screening tenants

A credit check, employment verification, rental references, and an actual phone conversation. The cost of a vacant unit or a bad tenant in Ottawa far outweighs the time it takes to screen properly.

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Setting up the lease

Ontario requires the Standard Form of Lease for most residential tenancies. Any custom addenda must comply with the Residential Tenancies Act; anything that conflicts with it simply isn't enforceable.

Raising the rent

Most pre-November-2018 units are subject to the annual provincial rent guideline. Above-guideline increases are possible for major capital work, with LTB approval. Units built after that date are exempt from the guideline.

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If it comes to an eviction

The Landlord and Tenant Board handles non-payment, persistent late payment, damage, illegal use, and personal-use eviction matters. Timelines have gotten longer in recent years, so good screening and clear communication up front save months later.

Budgeting for maintenance

Set aside 5–10% of gross rent for maintenance and 1–2% of property value each year for capital reserves. Skip that number in your underwriting and your returns will look better than they actually are.

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Questions People Ask

A few common questions

What is the Ontario rent guideline for 2026?: The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing publishes the annual rent guideline each summer for the following calendar year. Confirm the current rate before issuing a rent increase notice.
Can I evict a tenant to move in to my Ottawa rental?: Yes, Form N12 (personal use) is the right notice, and it comes with strict compliance requirements. Bad-faith N12s carry significant penalties under recent amendments.
What's the standard security deposit in Ontario?: Ontario law allows last month's rent as a deposit but doesn't allow a separate security or damage deposit. That deposit must accrue interest annually at the rent guideline rate.

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Any prices, rates, market figures or value estimates on this page are for general information only, based on the assumptions shown, and are not legal, tax, mortgage or financial advice or an offer of credit. Actual rates, payments, taxes, fees and values vary — confirm the numbers with your lender, lawyer or accountant before relying on them. Full disclosures.

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