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, 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 does not allow a separate security or damage deposit. The deposit must accrue interest annually at the rent guideline rate.

Luxury Ottawa condo interior overlooking the skyline

Back to Ottawa homepage

Ottawa Investor Resources

Ottawa Rental Property Guide

Once you own an Ottawa rental property, operations matter more than acquisition. Tenant screening, RTA-compliant rent increases, proper notices, and maintenance practices separate profitable rentals from problem files.

Tenant screening

Credit check, employment verification, rental references, and a phone conversation. The cost of an empty unit or a bad tenant in Ottawa massively exceeds the cost of doing screening properly.

Modern Ottawa downtown condo tower against blue sky — Downtown Ottawa's growing condo skyline.

Lease agreements

Ontario requires the Standard Form of Lease for most residential tenancies. Custom addenda must comply with the Residential Tenancies Act — anything in conflict is unenforceable.

Rent increases

Subject to the annual provincial rent guideline for most pre-November-2018 units. Above-guideline increases (AGIs) are possible for major capital expenditures, with LTB approval. New (post-2018) units are exempt from the guideline.

New-construction Ottawa townhomes with fresh landscaping — New-construction communities by Ottawa's major builders.

Evictions and the LTB

The Landlord and Tenant Board handles non-payment, persistent late payment, damage, illegal use, and personal-use eviction matters. Timelines have lengthened in recent years — preventive screening and clear communication save months.

Maintenance and capital

Set aside 5–10% of gross rent for maintenance and 1–2% of property value annually for capital reserves. Underwriting that skips this number is overstating returns.

Laptop with real estate listings and mortgage paperwork on a kitchen table — Planning a purchase, mortgage and closing from the kitchen table.

FAQ

Frequently asked 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, 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 does not allow a separate security or damage deposit. The deposit must accrue interest annually at the rent guideline rate.

Verify the numbers yourself

Primary sources I rely on for current Ottawa real estate data, government incentives and consumer protection.

Need an Ottawa property manager referral?

I work with several reputable Ottawa property management firms — I'll introduce you to the right fit.

Request a property-manager referral

Ottawa in focus